A Night to Remember: Godolphin's Dominance at the Eclipse Awards
The Eclipse Awards, a prestigious celebration of excellence in horse racing, witnessed an extraordinary performance by Godolphin, a global racing and breeding powerhouse.
Despite not being a presenting sponsor, Godolphin stole the show at the 55th annual Eclipse Awards on January 22nd. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's stable walked away with five prestigious awards, including the ultimate recognition: Horse of the Year, an honor bestowed upon Sovereignty.
But here's where it gets controversial... Sovereignty, a homebred son of Into Mischief, followed in the footsteps of Cody's Wish, who won the same title in 2023. With an impressive campaign that included victories in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes, Sovereignty amassed an incredible 201 first-place votes out of 220. Forever Young and Ted Noffey, the champion 2-year-old male, trailed behind with 17 and 2 votes, respectively.
"It was an incredible year, and to be recognized by our peers is truly special," said Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock. "Having a great stable of horses is key, and Sovereignty was our team captain. Our European horses also played a significant role in this success."
Sovereignty's dominance was evident, receiving 219 out of 220 votes for the 3-year-old male category. Bill Mott, Sovereignty's trainer, accepted the Horse of the Year trophy on Godolphin's behalf, expressing his gratitude for being part of such a remarkable team.
"Winning this award is a testament to the entire Godolphin team. Sheikh Mohammed's impact on racing is unparalleled, and being part of his first Kentucky Derby win and another Horse of the Year title is beyond words."
Godolphin's success continued with Notable Speech, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile, being named the outstanding turf male. Additionally, Godolphin was honored as the top breeder and owner for the sixth consecutive year and ninth overall. Their horses earned a record-breaking $22.3 million in earnings, and their breeding program brought in $27.2 million, earning them their fifth straight breeding award.
"Winning the owner-breeder awards is a dream come true. It shows our stable is thriving. Our horses have won top stakes across various categories, and being homebreds, our employees have been with them since the beginning."
With Bill Mott voted the outstanding trainer for the fifth time, Godolphin's connections celebrated a remarkable six-award haul.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity and the chance to be back. It's a true comeback story," Mott said.
And this is the part most people miss... Last year's Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna, retired after an impressive career, adding the Eclipse Award for champion older dirt female to her achievements. Judy Hicks, the filly's breeder and co-owner, expressed her pride in Thorpedo Anna's success.
The international flavor of the evening was enhanced when Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was chosen as the top older dirt male. Yahagi expressed his gratitude for the recognition, especially considering Forever Young's lone American start, a half-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Garden State-bred Book'em Danno, owned by Jay Briscione, was crowned the champion male sprinter, a well-deserved title for this lucky and determined horse.
Spendthrift Farm's Ted Noffey, named after a creative tweet, dominated the voting for the champion 2-year-old male with an impressive 4-for-4 record, including three grade 1 wins. He received an overwhelming 218 first-place votes.
The evening began with a tribute to the legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who passed away in June 2023. Starter Bob Duncan, track announcer Trevor Denman, and the late turf journalist Edward Bowen were also honored with Special Eclipse Awards and the Eclipse Award of Merit, respectively.
Godolphin's dominance at the Eclipse Awards is a testament to their exceptional horses, trainers, and breeding programs. With an incredible six awards, they left an indelible mark on the racing world.
