The title of American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up, for performances on dirt and main track racing surfaces. In 1971, it became part of the Eclipse Awards program as the award for Champion Older Male Horse.
The award originated in 1936 when the Daily Racing Form (DRF) began naming an annual champion. In the same year, the Baltimore-based Turf and Sports Digest magazine instituted a similar award. Starting in 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) began naming its own champion. The following list provides the name of the horses chosen by these organizations. Whenever there were different champions named, the horses are listed side-by-side with the one chosen as champion by the Daily Racing Form noted with the letters (DRF), the one chosen by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations by the letters (TRA) and the one chosen by Turf and Sports Digest by the letters (TSD). Prior to 1971 this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse". The Daily Racing Form version was open to any horse, three years old and up and this award was given to some Champions at the age of three, such as Citation, Buckpasser, Damascus and Arts and Letters.
Champions from 1887 through 1935 were selected retrospectively by a panel of experts as published by The Blood-Horse magazine.
In 2015, the Daily Racing Form, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the National Turf Writers Association decided that the award would be renamed and awarded to older horses proficient in dirt and main track races.
Honorees
Eclipse Award for Champion Older Dirt Male Year Horse Age Trainer Owner2025Forever Young4Yoshito YahagiSusumu Fujita2024National Treasure4 Bob Baffert SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan2023Cody's Wish5 William I. Mott Godolphin2022Flightline4John SadlerHronis Racing2021Knicks Go5Brad H. CoxKorea Racing Authority2020Improbable4Bob BaffertWinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and SF Racing LLC2019Vino Rosso4Todd PletcherRepole Stable (Mike Repole) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)2018Accelerate5John SadlerHronis Racing2017Gun Runner4Steve AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm2016California Chrome5Art ShermanCalifornia Chrome LLC2015Honor Code4Claude R. McGaughey IIILane's End Racing2014Main Sequence5Graham MotionFlaxman Holdings2013Wise Dan6Charles LoprestiMorton Fink2012Wise Dan5Charles LoprestiMorton Fink2011Acclamation5Donald WarrenOld English Rancho2010Blame4Albert Stall Jr.Claiborne Farm2009Gio Ponti4Christophe ClementCastleton Lyons2008Curlin4Steve AsmussenStonestreet Stables/Midnight Cry Stables2007Lawyer Ron4Todd A. PletcherStonewall Farm2006Invasor4Kiaran McLaughlinShadwell Stable2005Saint Liam5Richard E. Dutrow Jr.M/M William K. Warren Jr.2004Ghostzapper4Robert J. FrankelFrank Stronach2003Mineshaft4Neil J. HowardW. S. Farish/W. T. Webber/J. Elkins2002Left Bank5Todd A. PletcherMichael B. Tabor2001Tiznow4Jay M. RobbinsCee's Stable2000Lemon Drop Kid4Scotty SchulhoferJeanne G. Vance1999Victory Gallop4W. Elliott WaldenPrestonwood Farm1998Skip Away5Sonny HineCarolyn Hine1997Skip Away4Sonny HineCarolyn Hine1996Cigar6William I. MottAllen E. Paulson1995Cigar5William I. MottAllen E. Paulson1994The Wicked North5David BernsteinPhilip & Sophie Hersh Trust1993Bertrando4Robert J. FrankelEd Nahem & Marshall Naify1992Pleasant Tap5Christopher SpeckertBuckland Farm1991Black Tie Affair5Ernie T. PoulosJeffrey Sullivan 1990Criminal Type5D. Wayne LukasCalumet & Jurgen K. Arnemann1989Blushing John4Richard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson1988Alysheba4Jack Van BergDorothy & Pamela Scharbauer1987Ferdinand4Charlie WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck1986Turkoman4Gary F. JonesCorbin J. Robinson1985Vanlandingham4Claude R. McGaughey IIILoblolly Stable1984Slew o' Gold4John O. HertlerEquusequity Stable1983Bates Motel4John H. M. GosdenJacqueline Phillips & Michael Riordan1982Lemhi Gold4Laz BarreraAaron U. Jones1981John Henry6Ron McAnallyDotsam Stable1980Spectacular Bid4Bud DelpHawksworth Farm1979Affirmed4Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1978Seattle Slew4Douglas R. PetersonK. & M. Taylor/J. & S. Hill1977Forego7Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.Lazy F Ranch1976Forego6Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.Lazy F Ranch1975Forego5Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.Lazy F Ranch1974Forego4Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.Lazy F Ranch1973Riva Ridge4Lucien LaurinEstate of C. T. Chenery1972Autobiography4Pancho MartinSigmund Sommer1971Ack Ack5Charlie WhittinghamBuddy Fogelson
Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1970Fort Marcy (DRF)6J. Elliott BurchRokeby Stables1970Nodouble (TRA)5J. Bert SonnierGene Goff1969Arts and Letters (DRF)3J. Elliott BurchRokeby Stables1969Nodouble (TRA)4J. Bert SonnierGene Goff1968Dr. Fager4John A. NerudWilliam L. McKnight1967Damascus (DRF)3Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.Edith W. Bancroft1967Buckpasser (TRA) (TSD)4Edward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1966Buckpasser (DRF)3Edward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1966Bold Bidder (TRA)4Woody StephensJohn R. Gaines1965Roman Brother4Burley ParkeHarbor View Farm1964Kelso7Carl HanfordBohemia Stable1963Kelso6Carl HanfordBohemia Stable1962Kelso5Carl HanfordBohemia Stable1961Kelso4Carl HanfordBohemia Stable1960Bald Eagle5Woody StephensCain Hoy Stable1959Sword Dancer (DRF)3J. Elliott BurchBrookmeade Stable1959Round Table (TRA)5William MolterKerr Stable1958Round Table4William MolterKerr Stable1957Dedicate5G. Carey WinfreyJan Winfrey Burke1956Swaps4Mesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1955High Gun4Max HirschKing Ranch1954Native Dancer4William C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1953Tom Fool4Duval A. HeadleyGreentree Stables1952Crafty Admiral4Robert B. OdomCharfran Stable1951Hill Prince (DRF)4Casey HayesChristopher Chenery1951Citation (TSD)6Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1950Noor5Burley ParkeCharles S. Howard
Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1949Coaltown4Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1948Citation (DRF)3Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1948Shannon II (TSD)7William MolterNeil S. McCarthy1947Armed6Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1946Armed5Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1945Stymie4Hirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1944Devil Diver5John M. Gaver Sr.Helen Hay Whitney1943Market Wise (TSD)5George W. CarrollLouis Tufano1943Devil Diver (DRF)4John M. Gaver Sr.Helen Hay Whitney1942Whirlaway4Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1941Mioland (DRF)4Tom SmithCharles S. Howard1941Big Pebble (TSD)5William B. FinneganEdward S. Moore1940Challedon4Louis J. SchaeferWilliam L. Brann1939Kayak II4Horatio LuroCharles S. Howard1938Seabiscuit5Tom SmithCharles S. Howard1937Seabiscuit4Tom SmithCharles S. Howard1936Discovery5Bud StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt II
The Blood-Horse retrospective champions Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1935Discovery4Bud StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1934Equipose6Thomas J. HealeyC. V. Whitney1933Equipose5Thomas J. HealeyC. V. Whitney1932Equipose4Thomas J. HealeyC. V. Whitney1931Sun Beau6Andy SchuttingerWillis Sharpe Kilmer1930Sun Beau5William A. CrawfordWillis Sharpe Kilmer1930Blue Larkspur4Herbert J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley1929Sun Beau4Andrew G. BlakelyWillis Sharpe Kilmer1929Diavolo4James E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1928Mike Hall4Walter W. TaylorHal Price Headley1927Chance Play4John I. SmithLog Cabin Stable1926Sarazen5Max HirschVirginia Fair Vanderbilt1925Sarazen4Max HirschVirginia Fair Vanderbilt1924Epinard4H. Eugene LeighPierre Wertheimer1923Grey Lag5Sam HildrethHarry F. Sinclair1922Exterminator7Eugene WaylandWillis Sharpe Kilmer1922Grey Lag4Sam HildrethHarry F. Sinclair1921Exterminator6Willie KnappWillis Sharpe Kilmer1921Mad Hatter5Sam HildrethHarry F. Sinclair1920Exterminator5Henry McDanielWillis Sharpe Kilmer1919Cudgel5H. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross1919Sun Briar4Henry McDanielWillis Sharpe Kilmer1918Cudgel4H. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross1917Old Rosebud6Frank D. WeirF. D. Weir & Hamilton Applegate1916Roamer5A. J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1916Short Grass8John J. FlanniganEmil Herz1915Roamer4A. J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1914Great Britain4John WaltersGeorge M. Hendrie1914Borrow6James G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney1913Whisk Broom II6James G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney1912Star Charter4John F. SchorrJohn W. Schorr1911Plate Glass5Jake ByerPhilip S. P. Randolph1910Fitz Herbert4Sam HildrethCharles Kohler1910Ballot6James G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1909King James4Sam HildrethSam Hildreth1908Ballot4James G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1907Nealon4Frank M. TaylorCharles E. Durnell1906Go Between5William ShieldsEdward R. Thomas1905Ort Wells4Enoch WishardJohn A. Drake1905Delhi4James G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1904Hermis5William ShieldsEdward R. Thomas1903Hermis4William ShieldsEdward R. Thomas1903Waterboy4A. Jack JoynerJames Ben Ali Haggin1902Gold Heels4Matthew M. Allen Fred C. McLewee & Diamond Jim Brady1901Banastar6Charles F. HillClarence H. Mackay1900Kinley Mack4Peter WimmerAugustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie1899Voter5James G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1898Ornament4Charles T. PattersonH. P. Headley & W. P. Norton 1897Ben Brush4Hardy Campbell Jr.Michael F. Dwyer1896Henry of Navarre5John J. HylandAugust Belmont Jr.1895Henry of Navarre4John J. HylandAugust Belmont Jr.1894Clifford4H. Eugene LeighH. Eugene Leigh & Robert L. Rose1894Ramapo4John J. HylandDavid Gideon & John Daly1893Lamplighter4John HugginsPierre Lorillard IV1893 Tammany4Matthew ByrnesMarcus Daly1892Longstreet6Hardy Campbell Jr.Michael F. Dwyer1891Longstreet5Hardy Campbell Jr.Michael F. Dwyer1890Salvator4Matthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin1890Kingston6Hardy Campbell Jr.Michael F. Dwyer1889The Bard6John HugginsAlexander Cassatt1889Kingston5Frank McCabeDwyer Brothers Stable1888 none selected n/a n/a 1887Troubadour5John W. RogersSamuel S. Brown
Thoroughbred Heritage retrospective champions Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1886Troubadour4John W. RogersSamuel S. Brown1885 Freeland6John W. RogersEdward Corrigan1884 General Monroe6Walter C. RollinsE. J. McElmeel1884Drake Carter4Green B. MorrisMorris & Patton1883 Eole5Evert V. SnedeckerFrederick Gebhard1882 Hindoo4James G. Rowe Sr.Dwyer Brothers Stable1881 Glenmore6William Jennings Sr. William Jennings Sr. 1881Checkmate6not foundJames T. Williams1880 Monitor4R. Wyndham WaldenGeorge L. Lorillard1879 Bramble4James G. Rowe Sr.Dwyer Brothers Stable1878 Parole5William BrownPierre Lorillard IV1877 Ten Broeck5Harry ColstonFrank B. Harper1877Parole4William BrownPierre Lorillard IV1876 Tom Ochiltree4R. Wyndham WaldenGeorge L. Lorillard1876Ten Broeck4Harry ColstonFrank B. Harper1875 Preakness5Charles S. LittlefieldMilton H. Sanford1875Springbok5Col. David McDanielCol. David McDaniel1874 Springbok4Col. David McDanielCol. David McDaniel
References
The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts from 1887 Additional retrospective Champions from 1874 at Thoroughbred Heritage
Notes