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.
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
|
