The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) announced that Sovereignty, who claimed five victories last year including the prestigious Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve, has been honored as the 2025 Horse of the Year during the 55th annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards held at The Breakers Palm Beach. Sponsored by John Deere, The Jockey Club, and NTRA, the ceremony celebrates excellence in North American Thoroughbred racing and is decided by votes from NTRA officials, Daily Racing Form, and national turf writers and broadcasters.
Owned by Godolphin and trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty secured 201 of 220 first-place votes. At three years old, Sovereignty also won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, and the DraftKings Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, with Junior Alvarado as his jockey for all races. Sovereignty also earned the title of Champion 3-Year-Old Colt.
Following Sovereignty in the Horse of the Year voting were Forever Young (JPN), winner of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), with 17 votes, and Ted Nophy, winner of the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Forever Young was named Older Dirt Male Champion, while Ted Nophy, with two votes, received the Two-Year-Old Stallion Champion title. Journalism, Preakness Stakes winner, was a finalist for both Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt.
Godolphin dominated the night, also winning the Outstanding Owner-Breeder Eclipse Award, with Bill Mott named Outstanding Trainer. Godolphin set records with $22,395,556 in single-season earnings and eight Group 1 wins, including a stunning Double with Good Cheer and Sovereignty’s Kentucky Derby victories, a feat last matched by Calumet Farm in 1952. In 2025, Godolphin’s offspring earned $27,288,066 in profit. Notable Speech (GB), a two-time G1 winner for Godolphin, was named Champion Grass Male by trainer Charlie Appleby.
Bill Mott earned his fifth Eclipse Award as Outstanding Trainer, having previously won in 1995, 1996, 2011, and 2023. In 2025, he secured 13 graded stakes wins, including the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) with Scylla. Mott has trained four Horses of the Year, including Sovereignty, Cigar (1995, 1996), and Cody’s Wish (2023).
Jockey Flavien Prat claimed the Outstanding Jockey Eclipse Award for the second consecutive year, finishing second in total earnings with $40,496,178, just behind Irad Ortiz Jr. Prat led in graded stakes wins with 46 and 13 G1 victories, including Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nisos and the PNC Bank Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on Splendora.
Sissopicy, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), earned Champion Female Sprinter honors for Playmore Racing LLC and Qatar Racing LLC, with trainer Jose D’Angelo. Bu’em Dunno, champion male sprinter from Atlanta Six Racing, won three graded stakes at Saratoga, including the Grade 1 Forago, for trainer Derek Ryan.
Soaped Anna, 2024 Horse of the Year, continued her success by winning the Apple Blossom (G1) and Personal Ensign (G1), securing the Older Dirt Female Championship. Sea Fields Pretty took Filly of the Year honors after victories in the New York Stakes and EP Taylor Stakes (G1). Champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen won six of nine races including the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
Forever Young’s wins brought Japan its second Eclipse Award; trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young captured the Older Dirt Male Champion with a thrilling Breeders’ Cup Classic victory, which was also voted the 2025 FanDuel-NTRA Moment of the Year by fans.
In youth categories, Ted Nophy was unbeaten in four races including the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, earning trainer Todd Pletcher the 2-year-old colt champion title. Super Coredora won the 2-year-old filly Eclipse Award after dominating the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Cool Jet (IRE) was named Steeplechase Champion after winning three consecutive races including the G1 Commonwealth Cup Stakes at Great Meadow.
Pietro Moran earned Outstanding Apprentice Jockey for leading all apprentices with 140 wins and over $6 million in earnings.
The late Edward L. Bowen received the Eclipse Distinguished Service Award for his lifelong contributions, while Trevor Denman and Bob Duncan were honored for their distinguished careers. Dan Piazza was recognized as the 2025 Horse Player of the Year.
The full list of Eclipse Award winners and voting details was released, with a voting participation rate of 92%, reflecting strong engagement from the racing community.
The Media Eclipse Awards recognized excellence in horse racing media coverage across categories like live television, writing, photography, and multimedia.
The Eclipse Award, named after the legendary 18th century racehorse Eclipse, is the highest honor in North American Thoroughbred racing, with voting conducted by the NTRA, Daily Racing Form, National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, and Equibase field staff.
Fan Take: Sovereignty’s dominant performance and the sweeping victories of Godolphin and Bill Mott highlight a golden era for Thoroughbred racing, underscoring the sport’s rich tradition and competitive spirit. This recognition not only celebrates exceptional talent but also inspires the next generation of horse racers and enthusiasts, promising a thrilling future for the sport.
