Finalists for the 2023 Eclipse Awards Announced

January 6th, 2024

Eclipse Awards champions Horse of the Year Outstanding Owner Breeder Trainer Jockey Older Female 2-year-old 3-year-old filly male apprentice Mott Cox Ortiz Prat Cody’s Wish Arcangelo Idiomatic Elite Power Fiercness Just F Y I

Idiomatic, Fierceness, and Arcangelo (left to right) are three finalists for 2023 Eclipse Awards in the categories of champion older female, champion 2-year-old male, and champion 3-year-old male. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Finalists for the 53^rd annual Eclipse Awards, which honor the best achievements in North American Thoroughbred racing, were announced Jan. 6 on FanDuel TV. Named after the legendary 18^th century English racehorse and sire, Eclipse, the Eclipse Awards began in 1971 following the consolidation of various championship honors bestowed to horses, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

On Jan. 25, 2024, the 53^rd annual Eclipse Awards will be held at The Breakers Palm Beach in South Florida. The Eclipse Awards are voted on by racing officials from racetracks and organizations that are members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, Equibase field personnel, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB).

The awards are presented to horses from a variety of age groups and specialties – topped by the Horse of the Year award – as well as to human competitors in the categories mentioned above. An Eclipse Award is also given to the winner of the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas, and several awards given to media members to honor achievements in covering Thoroughbred racing were announced on Jan. 5.

Eclipse Awards finalists for 2023 are listed below in alphabetical order, save for Horse of the Year, which will be announced at the conclusion of the awards ceremony on Jan. 25:

Champion 2-year-old Male: Fierceness; Locked; Muth

Champion 2-year-old Filly: Candied; Hard to Justify; Just F Y I

Champion 3-year-old Male: Arcangelo; Auguste Rodin; Mage

Champion 3-year-old Filly: Mawj; Pretty Mischievous; Randomized

Champion Older Dirt Male: Cody’s Wish; Elite Power; White Abarrio

Champion Older Dirt Female: Clairiere; Goodnight Olive; Idiomatic

Champion Male Sprinter: Cody’s Wish; Elite Power; Gunite

Champion Female Sprinter: Echo Zulu; Goodnight Olive; Maple Leaf Mel

Champion Turf Male: Auguste Rodin; Master of the Seas; Up to the Mark

Champion Turf Female: In Italian; Inspiral; Mawj

Champion Steeplechase Horse: Awakened; Merry Maker; Snap Decision

Outstanding Owner: Godolphin; Juddmonte; Klaravich Stables