Eclipse Award for 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. During the 21 years these two awards coexisted, the groups differed in their selection only four times. Finally, 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.
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