Drayden Van Dyke Takes Apprentice Eclipse

The Eclipse Award for leading apprentice went to 20-year-old Drayden Van Dyke, a youngster who learned from the best—including top trainer Tom Proctor and Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens.

Van Dyke, born near Louisville, Ky. and raised near Hot Springs, Ark., began riding races in the fall of 2013 after learning to be a horseman at Glen Hill Farm in Ocala, Fla. at Proctor's suggestion. His first winner was Money Clip, a Proctor trainee owned by Glen Hill who won at Hollywood Park on Nov. 21, 2013. 

Succeeding on the tough Southern California circuit, Van Dyke completed the 2014 season with a 192-192-158 record from 1,178 starts. His mounts brought in earnings of $6,074,102 and he collected three stakes scores: the $90,000 CTT and Thoroughbred Owners of California Handicap at Del Mar Aug. 22 on Ann of the Dance, the $150,000 Pucker Up Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Arlington International Racecourse Sept. 13 aboard Sistas Stroll, and the $100,000 Desi Arnaz back at Del Mar Nov. 16 with Achiever's Legacy.

Van Dyke also won riding titles in the summer and fall at Los Alamitos in 2014, the first apprentice to lead a meet in Southern California since J.C. Gonzalez won the Fairplex meeting at Pomona in 1998. He is known as "Little Bill," a nickname given to him by older riders in recognition of a riding style matching that of Hall of Famer Bill Shoemaker. His five-pound apprentice allowance expires Jan. 19.

The winning apprentice is the son of the late former jockey Seth Van Dyke, who died in August of 2014.

Voting (Only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities: National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters):

Drayden Van Dyke, 225; Juan Saez, 11; Trevor McCarthy, 6; Taylor Rice, 6; Voter Abstentions, 17.