The glitterati of the racing world came to the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Monday night January 23rd for the 2005 Eclipse Awards. Breeders´ Cup Classic winner Saint Liam came out the big winner, as he was named Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year. In the Horse of the Year balloting, there was much debate as to whether it should go to Saint Liam or Afleet Alex. In the final count, Saint Liam got 194 votes while Champion 3-year-old Male Afleet Alex only got 56. Only 80% of eligible ballots were cast.
There were few surprises on the night. Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez took home trainer and jockey honors, repeating as champions, Emma-Jayne Wilson won Champion Apprentice Jockey, only the second female to take the title ever. Folklore was Champion 2-year-old Filly, and Intercontinental was named Champion Turf Female. Owner Michael Gill finally won his Eclipse as Champion Owner, while Frank Stronach's Adena Springs repeated as Champion Breeder.
All the winners are listed below with the actual vote totals. A link to a full profile with 2005 past performances is given for each horse. To see all this years finalists with profiles for each, check here. You can look up past year's winners here.
Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male: Saint Liam
Horse of the Year: Saint Liam, 194; Afleet Alex, 56; Ghostzapper, 1; Lost in the Fog, 1; Rock Hard Ten, 1; Roses in May, 1. Voter Abstentions, 8.
Older Male: Saint Liam, 250; Ghostzapper 5; Rock Hard Ten, 3; Roses in May, 1; Voter Abstentions, 3.
Two-Year-Old Male: Stevie Wonderboy
Vote totals: Stevie Wonderboy, 230; First Samurai, 25; Bluegrass Cat, 1; Henny Hughes 1; Private Vow, 1; What a Song, 1. Voter abstentions, 3.
Two-Year-Old Filly: Folklore
Vote totals: Folklore, 257; Wild Fit, 2; French Park 1; Voter Abstentions, 2.
Three-Year-Old Male: Afleet Alex
Vote totals: Afleet Alex, 253; Flower Alley, 6; Voter Abstentions, 3.
Three-Year-Old Female: Smuggler
Vote totals: Smuggler, 177; Indian Vale, 24; Summerly, 20; Round Pond, 16; In the Gold, 9; Sweet Catomine, 9; Cesario (JPN), 2; Leave Me Alone, 1; Splendid Blended, 1; Sweet Symphony 1; Voter Abstentions 2.
Older Female: Ashado
Vote totals: Ashado, 203; Pleasant Home, 49; Intercontinental (GB), 2; Stellar Jayne, 2; Dream of Summer, 1; Pampered Princess, 1; Voter Abstentions, 3.
Sprinter: Lost in the Fog
Vote totals: Lost in the Fog, 209; Silver Train, 30; Saratoga County, 11; Ghostzapper, 7; Purge, 1; Taste of Paradise 1; Voter Abstentions, 3.
Male Turf Horse: Leroidesanimaux
Vote totals: Leroidesanimaux, 119; Artie Schiller, 116; Shirocco, 17; Powerscourt, 3;; Kitten's Joy, 2; Relaxed Gesture, 2; Voter Abstentions, 3.
Female Turf Horse: Intercontinental
Vote totals: Intercontinental, 245; Cesario, 8; Megahertz, 2; Gorella, 1; Ouija Board, 1; Sweet Talker, 1; Voter Abstentions, 4.
Steeplechase: McDynamo
Vote totals: McDynamo, 226; Hirapour, 2; Preemptive Strike, 2; Sur La Tete, 2; Paradise's Boss 1; Voter Abstentions, 29.
Owner: Michael Gill
Vote totals: Michael Gill, 75; Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc., 64; Live Oak Plantation, 42; Phipps Stable, 19; Cash is King LLC, 14; Robert Bone, 11; Eugene and Laura Melnyk, 2; Sam-Son Farm, 2; Harry Aleo, 9; Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr., 8; Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss, 4; Stronach Stables, 4; Juddmonte Farms, Inc., 1. Abstentions, 11.
Breeder: Adena Springs
Vote totals: Adena Springs, 129; Edward P. Evans, 53; Live Oak Stud, 27; Phipps Stable, 11; John Franks, 9; Juddmonte Farms, Inc., 7; Farnsworth Farms, 5; Wimborne Farm, Inc., 3; John Martin Silvertand, 2; William S. Farish, 1; John Gunther, 1; Liberation Farm, 1; Old English Rancho, 1. Abstentions, 11.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Vote totals: Todd Pletcher, 226; Steve Asmussen, 15; Robert Frankel, 5; Richard Dutrow, Jr., 4; Tim Ritchey, 4; Greg Gilchrist, 1; Claude R. McGaughey, III, 1; William I. Mott, 1; Cole Norman, 1; Nick Zito, 1. Abstentions, 3.
Jockey: John Velazquez
Vote totals: John Velazquez, 195; Edgar Prado, 20; Jerry Bailey, 19; Garrett Gomez, 12; Russell Baze, 6; Ramon Dominguez, 3; Rafael Bejarano, 2; Eddie Castro, 1; Gary Stevens, 1; Patrick Valenzuela, 1; Voter Abstentions, 2.
Apprentice Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson
Vote totals: Emma-Jayne Wilson, 185; Channing Hill, 42; Justin Stein, 11; Kyle Kaenel, 3; Gerald Almodovar, 1; David Cohen, 1; Corey Fraser, 1; Voter Abstentions, 18.
