American Horse of the Year

The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding.

Official voting for Horse of the Year honors did not begin until 1936 when the American "Daily Racing Form" (DRF) began choosing a Horse of the Year. In 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America (TRA) inaugurated its own Horse of the Year award. These voting procedures meant there were co-champions in 1949, 1952, 1957, 1965, and 1970.

In 1971, the DRF and TRA got together with the National Turf Writers Association and created one set of awards called the Eclipse Awards. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association replaced the TRA as a sponsor in 1998.

Kelso, who placed 4th in the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, won Horse of the Year honors five consecutive years. Omaha is the only Triple Crown winner not to be voted Horse of the Year.

Records

Most wins:
* 5 - Kelso (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 8 - James G. Rowe, Sr. (1896, 1900, 1901, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1913, 1915)

Most wins by an owner:
* 6 - Calumet Farm (1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1949)

Honorees

References

* [http://www.bloodhorse.com/eclipsewinners/pdf/History_Charts.pdf "The Bloodhorse.com" Champion's history charts]