An Eclipse Awards to Remember

Legendary NYRA track announcer Tom Durkin said onstage at the Eclipse Awards that horse racing is “an obsession fueled by dreams,” and succeeded in making just about everyone cry like a baby.
Emcee Jeannine Edwards called the Eclipse Awards a “four-day bonanza” in South Florida, and made sure the owner of Take Charge Brandi, Willis Horton, and specifically his wife, Glenda, were comfortable onstage by providing a sensible folding chair for those tired feet.
Special Eclipse Award recipient Michael Blowen of Old Friends reminded us that we would not all be there together and, in fact, would not even have a sport if not for the horses themselves.
And, most everyone stayed within the allotted one-minute acceptance speech time limit. So, all in all, the 44th Annual Eclipse Awards were a success.
ACACIA COURTNEY WITH HER PARENTS AT THE ECLIPSE AWARDS

This was my first live Eclipse Awards experience, and beyond reaffirming that racing people know how to throw a good series of parties surrounding a high-profile event, it made me realize all over again why so many of us keep coming back to this sport. Whether you are an owner, trainer, jockey or simply a fan, the world of horse racing boasts an incredible cast of characters. Over the past few days alone, I have heard a number of fascinating stories told by people from all walks of life. All have been brought together in one location, as has happened so many times before, by a shared passion. We all are passionate about a sport that thrills and excites, and the magnificent, intelligent animals that make it possible. This is what inspires these stories … as long as those stories are kept to one minute when appearing on live TV.
I had the honor of presenting, alongside Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form, the Eclipse Awards for outstanding apprentice jockey and outstanding jockey. As Drayden Van Dyke and then Javier Castellano walked up to the stage to receive their well-deserved trophy, the applause and support from the crowd was amazing.
ACACIA AND JAY PRIVMAN PRESENTING AT THE ECLIPSE AWARDS

Whenever I go to a racetrack, I usually spend about half of my time running around and trying to find people that I need to meet, take a photo with or try and convince to give me a job.
When I do get those few minutes to stop and watch the physically strong and mentally calculating jockeys ride the spirited and talented animals we call Thoroughbreds, I lose my breath every time. Here are men and women who take an incredible risk every day by riding a 1,000-pound horse through a living, moving maze to cross a finish line in just a matter of a few minutes.
And then, when you win an award you have just one minute to describe it. Stay on track, friends.
JAVIER CASTELLANO ACCEPTING HIS ECLIPSE AWARD

We study the Daily Racing Form, we watch them exercise in the morning, we pore over the past performances and both human and equine records. And yet, we can never fully predict a race. We can never fully predict the Eclipse Awards either (although we are pretty certain to hear a joke or seven about acceptance speech length).
What we can predict, however, is that there will be moments throughout the live show itself and throughout the entire Eclipse Awards experience that will remind us once again why we are all gathered there together.
We are fans. We have each contributed something different to the sport that we are a part of, and together we have made horse racing what it is.
We are, each of us, ambassadors, and that alone makes us worthy of our own award or acknowledgement. Our involvement also makes it our responsibility to make the sport even better than it is. Because, as Tom Durkin said, the Eclipse Awards takes place “in a room full of dreamers,” and we know that, sometimes, it is possible to make dreams become reality.
And at our core, we dreamers, we are all fans. 
Acacia’s top five Eclipse Awards Moments
1. Tom Durkin’s speech for his Eclipse Award of Merit.
Way to go, Tom Durkin. Always stealing the show. There was not a dry eye in the house.
2. California Chrome’s runaway Horse of the Year win.
So, when can we start getting horses up onstage to accept these kinds of awards? Even Steve Coburn was left speechless in this moment. 
3. Michael Blowen’s acceptance of the Special Eclipse Award at the ThoroFan awards brunch Friday morning.
If that doesn’t make you have faith in something positive in our sport, I don’t know what will. 
4. The upset by Sr. Quisqueyano in the Sunshine Millions Classic.
Delivering a shock to Gulfstream (and all of Twitter) at 20.60-to-1. #surprise
5. The persistent Conga line at the Friday night Havana Nights party in the paddock.
Hey, I had to include it. Attendees were channeling their inner Carmen Miranda well into the night.