The Mr. Fitz Award is presented annually by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) for typifying the spirit of horse racing. The award is named in honor of Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.
History The Mr. Fitz award has been presented since 1981 in honor of the late horse trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, who trained horses such as 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua and 1957 Horse of the Year Bold Ruler.
The award recognizes an individual who reflects "the spirit of thoroughbred racing." The National Turf Writers Association presents the award at its annual dinner each year.
The first to receive the award was Quincy actor Jack Klugman, owner of Jaklin Klugman, in 1981.
In 1985, John Henry, two-time American Horse of the Year, was the first horse selected by racing writers to receive the Mr. Fitz Award.
Past recipients Source: 1981 – Jack Klugman, Owner-Breeder 1982 – Bill Shoemaker, Jockey; Woody Stephens, Trainer-Owner-Breeder 1983 – Fred W. Hooper, Owner-Breeder 1984 – Penny Chenery, Owner-Breeder 1985 – John Henry, Horse of the Year 1986 – Arlington Park Management 1987 – Laffit Pincay Jr., Jockey 1988 – Jack Van Berg, Trainer 1989 – Ogden Phipps, Owner-Breeder 1990 – Arthur B. Hancock III, Owner-Breeder 1991 – Frances Genter, Owner-Breeder 1992 – Ron McAnally, Trainer 1993 – Ángel Cordero Jr., Jockey 1994 – Jeff Lukas, Trainer 1995 – Jimmy Croll, Trainer 1996 – MacKenzie Miller, Trainer 1997 – Bob Baffert, Trainer 1998 – Joe Hirsch, Journalist 1999 – Robert B. Lewis and Beverly Lewis, Owners 2000 – Pat Day, Jockey 2001 – Allen Jerkens, Trainer 2002 – Chris McCarron, Jockey 2003 – Sackatoga Stable, Owner 2004 – Patricia Cooksey, Jockey 2005 – Nick Zito, Trainer 2006 – Team Barbaro 2007 – Calvin Borel, Jockey 2008 – Luke Kruytbosch, Track Announcer 2009 – Larry Jones, Trainer 2010 – Richard Migliore, Jockey 2011 – Terry Wallace, Track Announcer 2012 – Mario Gutierrez, Jockey; Ivan Puhich, Trainer 2013 – Ramon Domínguez, Jockey 2014 – Art Sherman, Trainer 2015 – Team American Pharoah 2016 – Russell Baze, Jockey 2017 – Rick Porter, Owner-Breeder 2018 – Mike Smith, Jockey 2019 – D. Wayne Lukas, Trainer 2020 – None 2021 – John Shear, Santa Anita Paddock Captain 2022 – Jim McIngvale, Owner, Philanthropist, Promoter 2023 – Team Cody's Wish 2024 – Team Kenny McPeek 2025 – Perry Ouzts, Jockey
See also National Turf Writers Association
References