Wise Dan Wins Horse of the Year Honors, Two Other Eclipse Awards

Wise Dan, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile last year, won 2012 Horse of the Year honors at the 42nd annual Eclipse Awards.

Wise Dan became the first horse since John Henry in 1981 to win the top award in addition to the titles of champion male turf horse and champion older male, at the ceremonies last night at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

The 5-year-old chestnut gelding, trained by Charlie Lopresti and owned by Morton Fink of Northbrook, Illinois, won five of six starts last year.

Wise Dan received 194 votes, followed by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another (30 votes), and Fort Larned (12), winner of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Ramon Dominquez, who was hospitalized with a skull fracture after being thrown from his mount two days ago at Aqueduct Racetrack, was named jockey of the year. Dominquez set a record for purse earnings by a rider in a single year on Nov.9. His mounts earned $25.6 million to surpass the $23.4 million mark set by Jerry Bailey in 2003.

Trainer Dale Romans, who had winners in the Woodford Reserve, Arlington Million and Breeders’ Cup Turf, bested Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert in the voting for trainer of the year.

The Eclipse Awards are given to thoroughbred horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements have earned them the title of champion in their respective divisions. Votes are cast by representatives of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters.

Winners of Eclipse Awards

Award                    Winner (Age)
Two-Year-Old Male        Shanghai Bobby
Two-Year-Old Filly       Beholder
Three-Year-Old Male      I’ll Have Another
Three-Year-Old Filly     Questing (GB)
Older Male               Wise Dan (5)
Older Female             Royal Delta (4)
Male Sprinter            Trinniberg (3)
Female Sprinter          Groupie Doll (4)
Male Turf Horse          Wise Dan (5)
Female Turf Horse        Zagora (FR) (5)
Steeplechase Horse       Pierrot Lunaire (8)
Horse of the Year        Wise Dan (5)
Owner                    Godolphin Racing LLC
Breeder                  Darley
Jockey                   Ramon Dominguez
Apprentice Jockey        Jose Montano
Trainer                  Dale Romans

To contact the reporter on this story: Nancy Kercheval in Washington at nkercheval@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net