Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and runner-up Arrogate and California Chrome, respectively, were named among the contenders for Horse of the Year when the 2016 Eclipse Awards finalists were announced today. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) give the awards to recognize excellence in Thoroughbred racing.

Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced at the 46th annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony, presented by Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup and The Stronach Group, on Saturday evening, Jan. 21, at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Of the 264 eligible voters representing the NTRA, the NTWAB and Daily Racing Form, 248 (93.94 percent) took part in this year’s voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters’ top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first place votes.  

The 2016 Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order) are: 

Horse of the Year: Arrogate, California Chrome, Songbird

Two-Year-Old Male: Classic Empire, Not This Time, Practical Joke

Two-Year-Old Filly: Champagne Room, Lady Aurelia, New Money Honey

Three-Year-Old Male: Arrogate, Exaggerator, Nyquist

Three-Year-Old Filly: Cathryn Sophia, Queen’s Trust, Songbird

Older Dirt Male: California Chrome, Frosted, Lord Nelson

Older Dirt Female: Beholder, Cavorting, Stellar Wind

Male Sprinter: A.P. Indian, Drefong, Lord Nelson

Female Sprinter: Finest City, Haveyougoneaway, Paulassilverlining

Male Turf Horse: Flintshire, Highland Reel, Tourist

Female Turf Horse: Lady Eli, Miss Temple City, Tepin

Steeplechase Horse: Rawnaq (IRE), Scorpiancer (IRE), Top Striker

Owner: Juddmonte Farms, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Spendthrift Farm

Breeder: Clearsky Farms, Darley, WinStar Farm

Trainer: Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Mark Casse

Jockey: Javier Castellano, Jose Ortiz, Mike Smith

Apprentice Jockey: Kevin Gomez, Lane Luzzi, Luis Ocasio

In addition to honoring the 17 winners in the horse and human categories, Andrew Beyer, journalist, author and creator of the Beyer Speed Figures, and Steven Crist, racing writer and publisher, will both receive the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of achievement in the Thoroughbred industry. Paul Matties will receive an Eclipse Award as the 2016 Horseplayer of the Year. Members of the media will be honored for outstanding coverage in six categories.

Tickets to the Eclipse Awards are available for $425 each. Dinner tickets and reservations for the official event hotels – the Turnberry Isle Miami and the Grand Beach Hotel – can be accessed by contacting Casey Hamilton of the NTRA at chamilton@ntra.com.