The Eclipse Awards are voted on by 264 representatives of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters.
California Chrome, after winning the award for the irst time in 2014, becomes the first two-time Horse of the Year to win the honor in non-consecutive years since John Henry in 1981 and 1984.California Chrome received 202 first place votes for 2016 Horse of the Year. Arrogate, who was named Outstanding 3YO Male, finished second with 40 votes with unanimous Champion 3YO Filly award winner Songbird third with five votes. Highland Reel received one vote.
California Chrome was also named the unanimous winner of the Older Dirt Male award. He won seven of his eight starts in 2016, including dominant victories in the $10 million Dubai World Cup and the TVG Pacific Classic that propelled him to become the all-time leading North American money earner with $US14,502,650.
Arrogate, a spectacular winner of the G1 Travers Stakes by 13.5 lengths in the fastest time in the 147-year history of the race, inflicted the only defeat on California Chrome in 2016 when they clashed in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.Arrogate, the seventh Eclipse Award-winning 3YO trained by Bob Baffert, will meet California Chrome again next weekend in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream.
Songbird, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, won seven of her eight starts last year including G1 victories in the Santa Anita Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks and Cotillion Stakes.She lost the only race of her career when defeated a nose to the champion Older Dirt Female winner Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
2016 Eclipse Awards – The WinnersHorse of the Year: California Chrome
2YO Male: Classic Empire2YO Filly: Champagne Room
3YO Male: Arrogate3YO Filly: Songbird
Older Dirt Male: California ChromeOlder Dirt Female: Beholder
Male Sprinter: DrefongFemale Sprinter: Finest City
Male Turf Horse: FlintshireFemale Turf Horse: Tepin
Steeplechase Horse: RawnaqOwner: Juddmonte Farms
Breeder: WinStar FarmJockey: Javier Castellano
Apprentice Jockey: Luis OcasioTrainer: Chad Brown
Award of Merit: Andrew Beyer and Steven Crist.Voting Overview
Voter participation: 248/264 (93.94%)Horse of the Year: California Chrome, 202; Arrogate, 40; Songbird, 5; Highland Reel, 1.
2YO Male: Classic Empire, 248.2YO Filly: Champagne Room, 202; New Money Honey, 21; Lady Aurelia, 11; Pretty City Dancer, 5; Shane’s Girlfriend, 3; Abel Tasman, 2; Miss Sky Warrior, 2; Victory to Victory, 1; Voter Abstentions, 1.
3YO Male: Arrogate, 243; Exaggerator, 2; Nyquist, 2; Gun Runner, 1.3YO Filly: Songbird, 248.
Older Dirt Male: California Chrome, 248.Older Dirt Female: Beholder, 246; Stellar Wind, 2.
Male Sprinter: Drefong, 199; Lord Nelson, 29; A.P. Indian, 20.Female Sprinter: Finest City, 185; Haveyougoneaway, 20; Paulassilverlining, 13; Taris, 12; Carina Mia, 11; Constellation, 2; Lightstream, 1; Songbird, 1. Voter Abstentions, 3.
Male Turf Horse: Flintshire, 137; Highland Reel, 76; Tourist, 32; Da Big Hoss, 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.Female Turf Horse: Tepin, 225; Found, 11; Queen’s Trust, 7; Lady Eli, 2; Miss Temple City, 2; Catch a Glimpse, 1.
Steeplechase Horse: Rawnaq, 171; Top Striker, 31; Special Skills, 2; Bob Le Beau, 1; Portrade, 1. Voter Abstentions, 42.Owner: Juddmonte Farms, 134; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 45; Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, 17; Spendthrift Farm 17; California Chrome LLC 16; Reddam Racing 4; Fox Hill Farms 3; John Oxley, 3; WinStar Farm, 2; End Zone Athletics, 1 Midwest Thoroughbreds 1. Voter Abstentions, 5.
Breeder: WinStar Farm 164; Clearsky Farms, 62; Juddmonte Farms, 4; Darley, 3; Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, 3; Adena Springs, 2; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 1; Machmer Hall, 1. Voter Abstentions, 8.Trainer: Chad Brown, 208; Bob Baffert, 21, Mark Casse, 11; Art Sherman, 3; Steve Asmussen, 2; Karl Broberg, 1; Todd Pletcher, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.
Jockey: Javier Castellano, 146; Mike Smith, 44; Jose Ortiz, 41; Florent Geroux,12; Irad Ortiz, Jr., 2; Julien Leparoux, 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.Apprentice Jockey: Luis Ocasio, 182; Lane Luzzi, 34; Eric Cancel, 1; Ashley Castrenze, 1. Voter Abstentions, 30.
