2025 Eclipse Awards Finalists Announced, Culminating in Horse of the Year Reveal
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The Eclipse Awards, recognizing the pinnacle of achievement in Thoroughbred racing, have announced their finalists for 2025. Winners across 17 equine and human categories will be revealed on FanDuel TV and other outlets during the 55th Annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards ceremony on Thursday, January 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the prestigious Horse of the Year award capping off the evening.
A remarkably high participation rate of 92% – 221 out of 240 eligible voters – contributed to the selection of this year’s nominees. The voting pool comprises officials from racetracks, personnel from Equibase, members of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB), and representatives from the Daily Racing Form. According to a release, finalists were determined using a 10-5-1 point system based on voters’ top three selections, while the ultimate winners will be decided solely by first-place votes.
2025 Eclipse Award Finalists
The following are the finalists in each category, presented in alphabetical order (excluding Horse of the Year, which will be announced live):
Two-Year-Old Male: Brant, Gstaad, Ted Noffey
Two-Year-Old Filly: Cy Fair, Explore, Super Runner
Three-Year-Old Male: Baeza, Journalism, Sovereignty
Three-Year-Old Filly: Good Cheer, Nitrogen, Shisospicy
Older Dirt Male: Forever Young, Nysos, Sierra Leone
Older Dirt Female: Scylla, Splendora, Thorpedo Anna
Male Sprinter: Welcome back, Book’em Damage, Nysos
Female Sprinter: A copy, Shisospicy, Splendora
Male Turf Horse: Deterministic, Notable Speech, Rebel’s Romance
Female Turf Horse: Gezora, She Feels Pretty, Shisospicy
Steeplechase Horse: Cool Jet, Swore, Zanahiyr
Owner: Godolphin LLC, Klaravich Stables Inc., Spendthrift Farm LLC
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation, Godolphin LLC, WinStar Farm LC
Trainer: Chad Brown, Brad Cox, Bill Mott
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., Flavien Prat, John Velazquez
Apprentice Jockey: Christopher ElliottYedsit Hazlewood, Pietro Moran
Beyond the Track: Recognizing Excellence in Racing
The Eclipse Awards extend beyond recognizing equine and training prowess. Dan Piazza will be honored as the 2025 Horseplayer of the Year, acknowledging his skill and dedication to the sport. Furthermore, members of the media will receive accolades for outstanding coverage in six distinct categories, highlighting the crucial role journalism plays in shaping the narrative of Thoroughbred racing.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) spearheads the production of the Eclipse Awards ceremony, underscoring its commitment to celebrating the industry’s achievements. The awards themselves are steeped in history, named after the legendary 18th-century racehorse Eclipse, who remained undefeated in 18 starts and became a foundational sire, producing the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbys.
Further information regarding the Eclipse Awards can be found at https://www.ntra.com/eclipse-awards/. Questions can be directed to Michele Ravencraft at [email protected].
