The American Champion Sprint Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1947, in 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to the top horse in sprint races (usually those run at a distance of under one mile).
The Daily Racing Form (DRF) began naming an annual sprint champion in 1947. Starting in 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) began naming its own champion.[1] The following list provides the name of the horses chosen by these organizations.
The Daily Racing Form , the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the National Turf Writers Association all joined forces in 1971 to create the Eclipse Award.[2]
Through 2006, the Sprint Champion was chosen from a horse of either sex. In 2007, a separate category honoring the American Champion Female Sprint Horse became part of the Eclipse Awards program.
From 1960 through 1963 no award was given.
Honorees [ edit ] Year Horse Trainer Owner 2023 Elite Power William I. Mott Juddmonte 2022 Elite Power William I. Mott Juddmonte 2021 Jackie's Warrior Steven M. Asmussen J. Kirk & Judy Robison 2020 Whitmore Ron Moquett Robert V. LaPenta, Ron Moquett, Head of Plains Partners LLC 2019 Mitole Steven M. Asmussen L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt 2018 Roy H Peter L. Miller Rockingham Ranch & Davi Bernsen 2017 Roy H Peter L. Miller Rockingham Ranch & Davi Bernsen 2016 Drefong Bob Baffert Baoma Corp 2015 Runhappy Laura Wohlers, Maria Borell Jim McIngvale 2014 Work All Week Richard Brueggemann Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc 2013 Points Offthebench Tim Yakteen Donnie Crevier & Charles V. Martin 2012 Trinniberg Bisnath Parboo Shivananda Racing 2011 Amazombie Bill Spawr Thomas Sanford & Bill Spawr 2010 Big Drama David Fawkes Harold Queen 2009 Kodiak Kowboy Steven M. Asmussen Vinery Stables & Fox Hill Farm 2008 Benny the Bull Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. IEAH Stables et al. 2007 Midnight Lute Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram & Watson & Weitman Performance (Karl Watson, Paul Weitman) 2006 Thor's Echo Douglas F. O'Neill Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 2005 Lost in the Fog Greg Gilchrist Harry J. Aleo 2004 Speightstown Todd A. Pletcher Eugene Melnyk 2003 Aldebaran Robert J. Frankel Flaxman Holdings 2002 Orientate D. Wayne Lukas Robert & Beverly Lewis 2001 Squirtle Squirt Robert J. Frankel David J. Lanzman 2000 Kona Gold Bruce Headley Bruce Headley, Irwin & Andrew Molasky, High Tech Stable (Michael Singh) 1999 Artax Louis Albertrani Paraneck Stable (Ernie Paragallo) 1998 Reraise Craig Dollase Barry Fey, Moon Han, Dr. Frank Sinatra & Dr. Larry Opas 1997 Smoke Glacken Henry L. Carroll William Roberts, Alexander Karkenny, Robert P. Levy 1996 Lit de Justice Jenine Sahadi Evergreen Farm 1995 Not Surprising Judson Van Worp Robert E. Van Worp Jr. 1994 Cherokee Run Frank A. Alexander Jill E. Robinson 1993 Cardmania Derek Meredith Jean Couvercelle 1992 Rubiano Flint S. Schulhofer Centennial Farms (Don Little, racing partnership manager) 1991 Housebuster Warren A. Croll, Jr. Robert P. Levy 1990 Housebuster Warren A. Croll, Jr. Robert P. Levy 1989 Safely Kept Alan E. Goldberg Barry Weisbord 1988 Gulch D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant 1987 Groovy Jose A. Martin Prestonwood Farm (Jack, Art, & J. R. Preston) 1986 Smile Flint S. Schulhofer Frances A. Genter 1985 Precisionist L. Ross Fenstermaker Fred W. Hooper 1984 Eillo Budd Lepman Crown Stable 1983 Chinook Pass Laurie Anderson Hi Yu Stables (J. Edward Purvis) 1982 Gold Beauty William D. Curtis Georgia E. Hoffman 1981 Guilty Conscience Sonny Hine Rosalee Davidson 1980 Plugged Nickle Thomas J. Kelly John M. Schiff 1979 Star de Naskra Richard D. Ferris Carlyle J. Lancaster 1978 Dr. Patches (tie) John A. Nerud Tartan Stable 1978 J.O. Tobin (tie) Laz Barrera George A. Pope Jr. 1977 What A Summer LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone 1976 My Juliet Eugene Euster George Weasel Jr. 1975 Gallant Bob Joseph D. Marquette Robert P. Horton 1974 Forego Sherrill W. Ward Lazy F Ranch 1973 Shecky Greene Lou M. Goldfine Joseph Kellman 1972 Chou Croute Bob G. Dunham Emanuel V. Benjamin III & William G. Clark 1971 Ack Ack Charles E. Whittingham Buddy Fogelson 1970 Ta Wee Flint S. Schulhofer Tartan Stable 1969 Ta Wee Flint S. Schulhofer Tartan Stable 1968 Dr. Fager John A. Nerud Tartan Stable 1967 Dr. Fager John A. Nerud Tartan Stable 1966 Impressive Edward A. Neloy Little M Farm 1965 Affectionately Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1964 Ahoy J. Bowes Bond Jaclyn Stable (William S. Paley & Dr. Leon Levy) 1959 Intentionally Edward I. Kelly, Sr. Harry Z. Isaacs 1958 Bold Ruler James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1957 Decathlon Rollie T. Shepp Robert J. Dienst 1956 Decathlon Rollie T. Shepp Robert J. Dienst 1955 Berseem Frank E. Childs Abe Hirschberg 1954 White Skies Thomas F. Root, Sr. William M. Wickham 1953 Tom Fool John M. Gaver, Sr. Greentree Stable 1952 Tea-Maker J. Dallet Byers F. Ambrose Clark 1951 Sheilas Reward Eugene Jacobs Mrs. Louis Lazare 1950 Sheilas Reward Eugene Jacobs Mrs. Louis Lazare 1949 Delegate (Tie) John A. Nerud Herbert M. Woolf 1949 Royal Governor (Tie) James E. Ryan Esther D. du Pont 1948 Coaltown Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1947 Polynesian Morris H. Dixon Gertrude T. Widener
References [ edit ]
Award categories
Miscellaneous