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. 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.
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 Year Horse Trainer Owner2025Book'em DannoDerek S. RyanAtlantic Six Racing, LLC2024 Straight No ChaserDan BlackerMyRacehorse2023Elite PowerWilliam I. MottJuddmonte2022Elite PowerWilliam I. MottJuddmonte2021Jackie's WarriorSteven M. AsmussenJ. Kirk & Judy Robison2020WhitmoreRon MoquettRobert V. LaPenta, Ron Moquett, Head of Plains Partners LLC2019MitoleSteven M. Asmussen L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt 2018Roy HPeter L. MillerRockingham Ranch & Davi Bernsen2017Roy HPeter L. MillerRockingham Ranch & Davi Bernsen2016DrefongBob BaffertBaoma Corp2015RunhappyLaura Wohlers, Maria BorellJim McIngvale2014Work All WeekRichard Brueggemann Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc2013Points OffthebenchTim YakteenDonnie Crevier & Charles V. Martin2012TrinnibergBisnath ParbooShivananda Racing2011 Amazombie Bill Spawr Thomas Sanford & Bill Spawr2010 Big Drama David Fawkes Harold Queen2009 Kodiak KowboySteven M. Asmussen Vinery Stables & Fox Hill Farm2008 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 Maktoum2005 Lost in the Fog Greg Gilchrist Harry J. Aleo2004 Speightstown Todd A. Pletcher Eugene Melnyk 2003 Aldebaran Robert J. Frankel Flaxman Holdings2002 Orientate D. Wayne Lukas Robert & Beverly Lewis2001 Squirtle Squirt Robert J. Frankel David J. Lanzman2000 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 DollaseBarry Fey, Moon Han, Dr. Frank Sinatra & Dr. Larry Opas1997 Smoke Glacken Henry L. Carroll William Roberts, Alexander Karkenny, Robert P. Levy1996 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. Robinson1993 Cardmania Derek Meredith Jean Couvercelle1992 Rubiano Flint S. Schulhofer Centennial Farms (Don Little, racing partnership manager) 1991 Housebuster Warren A. Croll, Jr. Robert P. Levy1990 Housebuster Warren A. Croll, Jr. Robert P. Levy1989 Safely Kept Alan E. Goldberg Barry Weisbord1988 Gulch D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant1987 Groovy Jose A. Martin Prestonwood Farm (Jack, Art, & J. R. Preston)1986 Smile Flint S. Schulhofer Frances A. Genter1985 Precisionist L. Ross Fenstermaker Fred W. Hooper1984 Eillo Budd Lepman Crown Stable 1983 Chinook Pass Laurie Anderson Hi Yu Stables (J. Edward Purvis)1982 Gold Beauty William D. Curtis Georgia E. Hoffman1981 Guilty Conscience Sonny Hine Rosalee Davidson1980 Plugged Nickle Thomas J. Kelly John M. Schiff1979 Star de Naskra Richard D. Ferris Carlyle J. Lancaster1978 Dr. Patches (tie) John A. Nerud Tartan Stable1978 J.O. Tobin (tie) Laz Barrera George A. Pope Jr.1977 What A Summer LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone1976 My Juliet Eugene Euster George Weasel Jr.1975 Gallant Bob Joseph D. Marquette Robert P. Horton1974 Forego Sherrill W. Ward Lazy F Ranch1973 Shecky Greene Lou M. Goldfine Joseph Kellman1972 Chou Croute Bob G. Dunham Emanuel V. Benjamin III & William G. Clark1971 Ack Ack Charles E. Whittingham Buddy Fogelson1970 Ta Wee Flint S. Schulhofer Tartan Stable1969 Ta Wee Flint S. Schulhofer Tartan Stable1968 Dr. Fager John A. Nerud Tartan Stable1967 Dr. Fager John A. Nerud Tartan Stable1966 Impressive Edward A. Neloy Little M Farm1965 Affectionately Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs1964 Ahoy J. Bowes Bond Jaclyn Stable (William S. Paley & Dr. Leon Levy)1959 Intentionally Edward I. Kelly, Sr. Harry Z. Isaacs1958 Bold Ruler James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable1957 Decathlon Rollie T. Shepp Robert J. Dienst1956 Decathlon Rollie T. Shepp Robert J. Dienst1955 Berseem Frank E. Childs Abe Hirschberg1954 White Skies Thomas F. Root, Sr. William M. Wickham1953 Tom Fool John M. Gaver, Sr. Greentree Stable1952 Tea-Maker J. Dallet Byers F. Ambrose Clark1951 Sheilas Reward Eugene Jacobs Mrs. Louis Lazare1950 Sheilas Reward Eugene Jacobs Mrs. Louis Lazare1949 Delegate (Tie) John A. Nerud Herbert M. Woolf1949 Royal Governor (Tie) James E. Ryan Esther D. du Pont1948 Coaltown Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1947 Polynesian Morris H. Dixon Gertrude T. Widener
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