First Time By: Inaugural Eclipse Awards
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Photo: Blood-Horse Library
Sam Koza, bugler for the New York Racing Association, calls to the post the inaugural "Winners Circle" dinner Jan. 26, 1972
As Blood-Horse celebrates 100 years of Thoroughbred industry coverage in 2016, we'll take a look at how the publication covered some of the sport's biggest events throughout the year—in both the print edition and on BloodHorse.com.
With the 45th Eclipse Awards taking place Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park, it's remarkable the changes in the event—and coverage—since the inaugural "Winners Circle" dinner took place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on Jan. 26, 1972.
Prior to the Eclipse Awards, different associations and outlets named their own champions. In 1971 there was a consolidation of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of America, Triangle Publications (Daily Racing Form), and the National Turf Writers Association (now the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association) to present unified championships. With the TRA at the helm, the Eclipse Awards were created with winners honored at a black-tie gala with statuettes designed by Lexington artist Adalin Wichman.
The statuette, modeled on George Stubbs' painting, is of Eclipse, a foal of 1764 who made 18 starts, winning 10 and earning "walkovers" in eight others, hence the saying: "Eclipse first—the rest nowhere!"
There was little drama to the inaugural event in Manhattan in 1972 as the winners had been announced the prior December. E.E. "Buddy" Fogelson and his wife Greer Garson's Ack Ack was the big winner, being named champion sprinter, champion handicapper, and Horse of the Year.
Mervyn LeRoy, left, with Greer Garson and E.E. "Buddy" Fogelson
Jockey Eddie Arcaro said in The Blood-Horse he knew it was going to be a good show "when they cut out all them speeches; kept it short and sweet."
Jockey Eddie Arcaro flanked by apprentice jockey winner Gene St. Leon and outstanding jockey Laffit Pincay Jr.
Of note was Ogden Mills Phipps' accepting the award for Numbered Account as champion 2-year-old filly of 1971. The daughter of Buckpasser—Intriguing, by Swaps, is a major component in the pedigree of many of today's top runners, including 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome .
Ogden Mills Phipps collects Eclipse Award for 2-year-old filly Numbered Account from John D. Schapiro
Photos and a brief write-up of the Eclipse Awards didn't appear in The Blood-Horse until the issue dated Feb. 7, with a one-page story on the inside back cover. The cover image of the issue dated Jan. 31 was Stubbs' portrait of Eclipse. The cover image of the Feb. 7 issue was of Autobiography and Triple Bend in a dead heat in Santa Anita's San Fernando Stakes.
Editor Kent Hollingsworth covered the event in the "What's Going On Here" column. He noted that "It pulled in some 900 racing people from all over North America into New York in January, and any time you can get such a crowd of racetrackers, in black tie, at $50 a pop, in a town where they are not even running—such an occasion must be deemed a success."
Paul and Rachel "Bunny" Mellon, owners of champion grass horse Run the Gantlet
Helen Alexander accepts Eclipse for 3-year-old colt or gelding Canonero II
Mrs. Howard Keck with trophy for 3-year-old filly Turkish Trousers and Hollywood Park's James D. Stewart
This year's Eclipse Awards, featuring Triple Crown winner American Pharoah as a finalist for Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male, will be covered online in near real-time on BloodHorse.com with a social media component via Twitter from on-site writer Claire Novak (@BH_CNovak), other staff members, and via the main account (@BloodHorse). A comprehensive news story will be posted a few hours after the last statuette is handed out, with a slideshow of photos from the event to follow the next day.
Coverage in the print edition will be featured in the edition going to press Jan. 19.