The American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971.
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).
The Daily Racing Form, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the National Turf Writers Association all joined forces in 1971 to create the Eclipse Award.
Champions from 1886 through 1935 were selected retrospectively by a panel of experts as published by The Blood-Horse magazine.
Honorees
Eclipse Awards Year Horse Trainer Owner2025Ted NoffeyTodd A. PletcherSpendthrift Farm2024Citizen BullBob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan2023FiercenessTodd A. PletcherRepole Stables2022Forte Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable2021Corniche Bob BaffertSpeedway Stables2020Essential QualityBrad H. CoxGodolphin2019Storm the CourtPeter EurtonExline-Border Racing LLC2018Game WinnerBob BaffertMary & Gary West2017Good MagicChad Browne Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables2016Classic EmpireMark CasseJohn C. Oxley2015NyquistDoug O'NeillReddam Racing2014American PharoahBob BaffertAhmed Zayat2013Shared BeliefJerry HollendorferJungle Racing, Kmn Racing et al.2012Shanghai BobbyTodd PletcherStarlight Racing2011HansenMike MakerK. Hansen & Sky Chai Racing2010Uncle MoTodd PletcherMike Repole2009Lookin at LuckyBob BaffertMike Pegram, Karl Watson, Paul Weitman2008MidshipmanBob BaffertGodolphin Racing2007War PassNicholas P. ZitoRobert V. LaPenta2006Street SenseCarl NafzgerJames B. Tafel2005Stevie WonderboyDouglas F. O'NeillMerv Griffin2004Declan's MoonRonald W. EllisJay Em Ess Stables2003Action This DayRichard E. MandellaB. Wayne Hughes2002VindicationBob BaffertPadua Stables2001JohannesburgAidan O'BrienMichael Tabor & Sue Magnier2000Macho UnoJoe OrsenoStronach Stables1999AneesAlex L. Hassinger Jr.The Thoroughbred Corp.1998Answer LivelyBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks1997Favorite TrickPatrick B. ByrneJoseph LaCombe1996Boston HarborD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm1995Maria's MonRichard E. SchosbergMrs. Morton Rosenthal1994Timber CountryD. Wayne LukasGainesway Stable, et al.1993DehereReynaldo NoblesDue Process Stable1992Gilded TimeDarrell ViennaDavid Milch, Jack & Mark Silverman1991AraziFrançois BoutinAllen E. Paulson & Sheikh Mohammed1990Fly So FreeFlint S. SchulhoferTommy & Elizabeth Valando1989RhythmClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1988Easy GoerClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1987Forty NinerWoody StephensClaiborne Farm1986CapoteD. Wayne LukasBeal, French Jr. & Klein1985TassoNeil D. DrysdaleGerald Robins1984Chief's CrownRoger LaurinStar Crown Stable1983Devil's BagWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable1982Roving BoyJoseph ManziRobert E. Hibbert1981Deputy MinisterBill MarkoCenturion Stables & Kinghaven Farms1980Lord AvieDaniel PerlsweigSKS Stable1979Rockhill NativeHerbert K. StevensHarry A. Oak1978Spectacular BidBud DelpHawksworth Farm1977AffirmedLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm1976Seattle SlewWilliam H. Turner Jr.Karen & Mickey Taylor1975Honest PleasureLeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone1974Foolish PleasureLeRoy JolleyJohn L. Greer1973ProtagonistJohn P. CampoMaxwell H. Gluck1972SecretariatLucien LaurinChristopher Chenery1971Riva RidgeLucien LaurinChristopher Chenery
Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards Year Horse TrainerOwner1970Hoist The FlagSidney Watters Jr.Jane Forbes Clark1969Silent ScreenJ. Bowes BondElberon Farm1968Top KnightRaymond MetcalfSteven B. Wilson1967Vitriolic Edward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1966SuccessorEdward A. NeloyWheatley Stable1965BuckpasserWilliam C. WinfreyOgden Phipps1964Bold LadWilliam C. WinfreyWheatley Stable1963Hurry to Market (TRA)(DRF)David ErbRoger W. Wilson & Mrs. T. P. Hull Jr.1963Raise a Native (TSD)Burley ParkeLouis Wolfson1962Never BendWoody StephensCain Hoy Stable1961Crimson SatanGordon R. PotterPeter W. Salmen Sr.1960Hail to ReasonHirsch JacobsHirsch Jacobs & Harbor View Farm1959WarfareHack RossClifton H. Jones1958First LandingCasey HayesChristopher Chenery1957Nadir (DRF)Moody JolleyClaiborne Farm1957Jewel's Reward (TRA) (TSD)Ivan H. ParkeMaine Chance Farm1956BarbizonHorace A. JonesLucille P. Markey1955NeedlesHugh L. FontaineJack Dudley & Bonnie Heath1954 NashuaJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1953Porterhouse (TRA) (DRF)Charles E. WhittinghamLiz Whitney Tippett1953Hasty Road (TSD)Harry TrotsekHasty House Farm1952Native DancerWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1951Tom FoolJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1950BattlefieldBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.
Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards Year Horse Trainer Owner1949Hill Prince (DRF)Casey HayesChristopher Chenery1949Oil Capitol (TSD)Harry TrotsekThomas Gray & Cora M. Trotsek1948Blue PeterAndy SchuttingerJoseph M. Roebling1947CitationBen & Horace JonesCalumet Farm1946Double JayWalter L. McCueJames V. Tigani & James Boines1945Star PilotTom SmithMaine Chance Farm1944PavotOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1943Platter (DRF)Bert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1943Occupy (TSD)Burley ParkeJohn Marsch1942Count FleetDon CameronFannie Hertz1941AlsabSarge SwenkeAlbert Sabath1940Whirlaway (TSD)Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1940Our Boots (DRF)Steve JudgeRoyce G. Martin1939BimelechWilliam A. HurleyEdward R. Bradley1938El ChicoMatthew P. Brady William Ziegler Jr.1937MenowDuval A. HeadleyHal Price Headley1936PompoonJohnny LoftusJerome H. Louchheim
The Blood-Horse retrospective champions Year Horse Trainer Owner1935TintagelGeorge M. OdomMarshall Field III1934BalladierHerbert J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley1933CavalcadeRobert Augustus SmithIsabel Dodge Sloane1932LadysmanBud StotlerWilliam R. Coe1931Burning BlazeJohn B. PartridgePat & Richard Nash1930JamestownA. Jack JoynerGeorge D. Widener Jr.1930EquipoiseFred HopkinsCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1929WhichoneJames G. Rowe Jr.Harry Payne Whitney1928High Strung George M. OdomMarshall Field III1927Reigh CountHenry E. McDanielFannie Hertz1927DiceJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1926Scapa FlowScott P. HarlanWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1925PompeyWilliam H. KarrickWilliam R. Coe1924Master CharlieAndrew BlakelyWilliam Daniel1923St. JamesA. Jack JoynerGeorge D. Widener Jr.1923Wise Counsellor John S. WardFrederick A. Burton & John S. Ward1922ZevSam HildrethRancocas Stable1921Morvich Fred BurlewBenjamin Block1920TrysterJames G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney1919Man o' WarLouis FeustelSamuel D. Riddle1918Billy KellyH. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross1918Eternal Kimball PattersonJames W. McClelland1917Sun BriarHenry E. McDanielWillis Sharpe Kilmer1916Campfire Thomas J. HealeyRichard T. Wilson Jr.1915DominantJames G. Rowe Sr.Lewis S. Thompson1914PebblesRichard C. BensonJames Butler1913Old Rosebud Frank D. WeirFrank D. Weir & Hamilton Applegate1912HeliosJohn Oliver KeeneJohnson N. Camden Jr.1911WorthFrank M. TaylorHarry C. Hallenbeck1910NoveltySam HildrethSam Hildreth1909SweepJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1909WaldoRaleigh Colston Jr.Charles L. Harrison1908Sir MartinJohn E. MaddenJohn E. Madden1907ColinJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1906SalvidereJohn E. MaddenThomas Hitchcock1905BurgomasterJohn W. Rogers Harry Payne Whitney1904SysonbyJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1903Highball John W. MayWalter M. Scheftel & John W. May1902Irish LadJohn E. Madden H. P. Whitney & H. B. Duryea1901Nasturtium John W. RogersWilliam Collins Whitney1900CommandoJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1899MesmeristJulius BauerBromley and Co.1899ChacornacJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1898Jean BereaudSam HildrethSydney Paget1897HamburgJohn E. MaddenJohn E. Madden1896OgdenJohn CampbellMarcus Daly1895RequitalJames G. Rowe Sr.David Gideon1895Ben BrushEdward D. BrownH. Eugene Leigh & Edward D. Brown1894 none selected 1893DominoWilliam LakelandJames R. Keene1892MorelloFrank Van NessWilliam M. Singerly1891His HighnessJohn J. HylandDavid Gideon1890PotomacJames G. Rowe Sr.August Belmont1889El Rio ReyAlfred H. EstellTheodore Winters1888Proctor KnottSam W. BryantS. W. Bryant & George Scoogan1887Emperor of NorfolkJohn W. McClellandE. J. "Lucky" Baldwin1887RacelandJames G. Rowe Sr.August Belmont1886TremontFrank McCabeDwyer Brothers Stable
Notes
References
External links Thoroughbred Heritage: champions list