Each year the prestigious American Champion Sprint Horse title goes to the sprinter among US thoroughbred horses who achieved the best race results.
History of the Award
Since 1971 The Eclipse Awards Bestowed the Champion Sprint Horse recognition as one of their core awards.
The award establishment sought to identify sprinting horses because their racing skillset differed from distance runners.
The horses display exceptional abilities in both quick accelerations and speedy conclusion races to deliver electrifying experiences for race spectators.
Eclipse Awards gained their name from Eclipse the racehorse who established himself as an 18th-century British thoroughbred champion that modern bloodlines trace back to.
The Sprint Horse category award requires votes from three groups which consist of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form (DRF), and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB).
Notable Winners
Numerous exceptional horses have attained the American Champion Sprint Horse title in different decades since its establishment.
Several horses stand out among all time champions of the American Championship sprint races.
#1. Dr. Fager
All evidence indicates that Dr. Fager would have won the American Champion Sprint Horse title if the award existed during his racing career although no one received this recognition officially.
He earned this title through his ability to compete in various distances while setting a world milestone in 1968 for the mile race.
#2. Gulch
From sprint races Gulch gained his fame by winning both the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Sprint alongside the Eclipse Award that same season.
#3. Housebuster
Housebuster became one of the historical horses to secure two Eclipse Awards in a row by winning his division sprint races for the 1990-91 seasons.
#4. Roy H
Roy H earned holds the spot as a top sprinting champion of 2017-2018 by winning two consecutive Breeders’ Cup Sprints and collecting two consecutive Eclipse trophies.
Criteria and Challenges
The recognition of American Champion Sprint Horse depends on competitive sprint race achievements that runners demonstrate throughout the yearly racing season.
Racing success in the high-profile events of Breeders’ Cup Sprint along with Forego Stakes and Metropolitan Handicap and additional Grade 1 sprint races acts as one main factor for winning this award.
Sprinters encounter exceptional obstacles which differ from those faced by distance runners.
Sprinters succeed through their fast speed together with superior acceleration and their prowess to sustain extreme speeds during brief races.
