Eclipse Awards 2018 finalists revealed; see the list
A trio of finalists were named Saturday for 17 human and equine Eclipse Awards categories -- headlined by Horse of the Year -- honoring the best in Thoroughbred racing from 2018.
Voted on by the NTRA, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, the Eclipse Awards winners will be announced the evening of Thursday, Jan. 24.
Of 271 eligible voters, 249 (91.88 percent) submitted ballots. Finalists were determined in each category by voters’ top three selections using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first-place votes.
The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age 5 and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbys.
Finalists are listed in alphabetical order...
Horse of the Year
• Accelerate
• Justify
• Monomoy Girl
Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse
• Game Winner
• Improbable
• Knicks Go
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
• Bellafina
• Jaywalk
• Newspaperofrecord
Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse
• Catholic Boy
• Justify
• McKinzie
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
• Midnight Bisou
• Monomoy Girl
• Rushing Fall
Champion Older Dirt Male Horse
• Accelerate
• City of Light
• Gun Runner
Champion Older Dirt Female Horse
• Abel Tasman
• Marley's Freedom
• Unique Bella
Champion Sprint Horse
• Imperial Hint
• Roy H
• Stormy Liberal
Champion Female Sprint Horse
• Finley'sluckycharm
• Marley's Freedom
• Shamrock Rose
Champion Male Turf Horse
• Expert Eye
• Glorious Empire
• Stormy Liberal
Champion Female Turf Horse
• A Raving Beauty
• Enable
• Sistercharlie
Outstanding Steeplechase Horse
• Jury Duty
• Optimus Prime
• Zanjabeel
Outstanding Owner
• Peter Brant
• Hronis Racing
• Team Justify
Outstanding Breeder
• Mike Abraham
• John D. Gunther
• WinStar Farm
Outstanding Trainer
• Steve Asmussen
• Bob Baffert
• Chad Brown
Outstanding Jockey
• Irad Ortiz Jr.
• Jose Ortiz
• Mike Smith
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
• Reylu Gutierrez
• Weston Hamilton
• Edgar Morales