Eclipse Awards 2015 Finalists Revealed

Eclipse Awards 2015 Finalists Revealed: The 44th annual Eclipse Awards is set to take place at Gulfstream Park in sunny Hallandale Beach, Florida on Saturday, January 17, 2015. The 2015 edition of the Eclipse Awards will recognize excellence in thoroughbred racing throughout the year (2014) including champion horses, trainers, and members of the media.

Finalists for the 2015 Eclipse Awards were announced on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 on HRTV at 11:30 AM ET.

Eclipse Awards Nominees Include:

Horse of The Year
Bayern, California Chrome, Main Sequence

Champion 2-year-old Male Horse
American Pharoah, Hootenanny, Texas Red

Champion 2-year-old Filly
Condo Commando, Lady Eli, Take Charge Brandi

Champion 3-year-old Male Horse
Bayern, California Chrome, Shared Belief

Champion 3-year-old Filly
Stopchargingmaria, Sweet Reason, Untapable

Champion Older Male Horse
Main Sequence, Palace Malice, Wise Dan

Champion Older Female Horse
Close Hatches, Dayatthespa, Don’t Tell Sophia

Champion Sprint Horse
Goldencents, Private Zone, Work All Week

Champion Female Sprint Horse
Artemis Agrotera, Judy The Beauty, Sweet Reason

Champion Male Turf Horse
Karakontie, Main Sequence, Wise Dan

Champion Female Turf Horse
Crown Queen, Dayatthespa, Stephanie’s Kitten

Outstanding Steeplechase Horse
Demonstrative, Divine Fortune, Makari

Outstanding Owner
Kaleem Shah INC, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Ken & Sarah Ramsey

Outstanding Breeder
Adena Springs, Ken & Sarah Ramsey, Winchell Thoroughbreds

Outstanding Trainer
Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher

Outstanding Jockey
Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, John Velazquez

Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
Angel Cruz, Taylor Rice, Drayden Van Dyke

Eclipse Award of Merit
Tom Durkin

Special Eclipse Award
Old Friends

The great Wise Dan took home the title of Champion Horse of The Year in 2013 and 2014 for trainer Charles Lopresti and owner Morton Fink. The amazing Zenyatta was named Champion in 2010 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009. There has been much media debate over the past few weeks on who deserves the Eclipse Award for Champion Horse of The Year. California Chrome, Bayern, and Shared Belief are the most discussed equine athletes but some feel Main Sequence is worthy of the esteemed Champion Horse of The Year title.

The 2015 Eclipse Awards is presented by Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup, and the Stronach Group. Tickets for the prestigious event can be found at NTRA.com.