The Eclipse Award of Merit is part of the American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Eclipse Award

Eclipse Award

The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...

s in Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 horse racing

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

. The industry's highest honor, it is presented to an individual or entity displaying outstanding lifetime achievement in, and service to, the Thoroughbred industry.

First awarded in 1976, the Eclipse Award of Merit is voted on by a panel of representatives from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association

National Thoroughbred Racing Association

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic...

, Daily Racing Form

Daily Racing Form

The Daily Racing Form is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States....

 and the National Turf Writers Association

National Turf Writers Association

The National Turf Writers Association is an American association of journalists, columnists and other writers involved with reporting on the horse racing industry...

.

Winners

• 2008 - Alice Headley Chandler of Mill Ridge Farm
• 2007 - No Award Presented
• 2006 - John A. Nerud
  John A. Nerud
  John A. Nerud is an American thoroughbred horse trainer and owner who was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1972.-Early years:...
  
  
• 2005 - Penny Chenery
  Penny Chenery
  Helen Bates "Penny" Chenery Tweedy is an American sportswoman who bred and raced Secretariat, the 1973 winner of the Triple Crown...
  
  
• 2004 - The Cella Family
  Charles J. Cella
  Charles J. Cella is president of Southern Real Estate and Financial Company, an executive in the American Thoroughbred horse racing industry, and a racehorse owner....
  
  
• 2003 - Richard L. Duchossois
  Richard L. Duchossois
  Richard L. "Dick" Duchossois is an American businessman and racehorse owner. He was the founder and Chairman of The Duchossois Group, Inc., a family-owned company headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois that is known for its ownership stakes in Arlington Park and Churchill Downs race tracks, as well...
  
  
• 2002 - Ogden Phipps
  Ogden Phipps
  Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist...
  
   / Howard Battle
• 2001 - Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.
  Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.
  Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. was an American veteran of World War II, businessman, a former owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team, a Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, and a philanthropist....
  
   / Pete Pederson
• 2000 - Jim McKay
  Jim McKay
  James Kenneth McManus , better known by his professional name of Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist....
  
  
• 1999 - No award presented
• 1998 - D. G. Van Clief, Jr.
• 1997 - Bob and Beverly Lewis
• 1996 - Allen E. Paulson
  Allen E. Paulson
  Allen Eugene Paulson was an American aviation entrepreneur, philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse breeder and owner, and a self-made multi-millionaire.-Business career in aviation:Born in Clinton, Iowa, Allen E...
  
  
• 1995 - James E. "Ted" Bassett III
• 1994 - Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
  Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
  Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II was a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, a son of the first Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt who died a hero in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. His mother, Margaret Emerson, was one of America's wealthiest women and most sought-after hostesses, operating at least...
  
  
• 1993 - Paul Mellon
  Paul Mellon
  Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
  
  
• 1992 - Joe Hirsch
  Joe Hirsch
  Joe Hirsch was an American horse racing columnist and the founding president of the National Turf Writers Association.-Biography:...
  
   / Robert P. Strub
• 1991 - Fred W. Hooper
  Fred W. Hooper
  Fred William Hooper was an American Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. He was a member of The Jockey Club, an honorary director of the Breeders' Cup, and one of the founders of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and one of its first presidents.Born in Cleveland, Georgia, ...
  
  
• 1990 - Warner L. Jones
• 1989 - Michael Sandler
• 1988 - John Forsythe
• 1987 - James B. Faulconer
• 1986 - Herman Cohen
• 1985 - Keene Daingerfield
• 1984 - John R. Gaines
• 1981 - Bill Shoemaker
• 1980 - John D. Shapiro
• 1979 - Frank E. Kilroe
• 1978 - Ogden Mills Phipps
  Ogden Mills Phipps
  Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps is a retired American financier and prominent Thoroughbred racehorse industry executive and a Thoroughbred owner/breeder...
  
  
• 1977 - Steve Cauthen
  Steve Cauthen
  Steve Cauthen is a retired American jockey.Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat...
  
  
• 1976 - Jack J. Dreyfus
  Jack Dreyfus
  John J. "Jack" Dreyfus, Sr. was an American financial expert and the founder of the Dreyfus Funds.Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Dreyfus was a graduate of Lehigh University in Pennsylvania...