California’s horse racing scene has shown remarkable resilience, with thoroughbreds making significant strides in 2025. Despite various changes in the industry, horses trained at Santa Anita and Del Mar are set to be recognized with at least two divisional Eclipse Awards and expected to place in the top three across five of the ten divisions. This comes after a solid performance in 2024, where California horses clinched three championships and secured top-three finishes in five categories.
The annual Eclipse Awards will be announced on January 22, 2025, during a ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, which will be televised. Voting concluded recently, and the results reflect a strong showing from California-based horses in various categories, hinting at a bright future for the state’s racing industry.
Notable Nominations and Performances
The nominations highlight several exceptional horses that have made their mark this season. In the older male on dirt category, Forever Young, a 4-year-old trained in Japan, emerged victorious in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Following closely are Nysos, trained by Bob Baffert, who excelled in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes, and Fierceness.
In the older female on dirt category, Thorpedo Anna has caught attention with her impressive victories, although she did not defend her 2024 Horse of the Year title as anticipated. Other nominations include Scylla and Seismic Beauty, with Baffert’s Seismic Beauty earning top billing prior to her performance in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The turf categories also saw strong contenders. In the male on turf division, Notable Speech, a British 4-year-old, secured a win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, while She Feels Pretty stood out in the female on turf category, finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Emerging Stars and Veteran Performers
The younger divisions showcased promising talents set to influence the future of racing. In the 3-year-old male category, Sovereignty dominated the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers Stakes, cementing his status before being sidelined from the Breeders’ Cup due to illness. His fellow nominees included Journalism and Baeza, both of whom had strong seasons.
The 3-year-old female contenders featured Nitrogen, who consistently performed well on both dirt and turf, and the 2-year-old male division is highlighted by Ted Noffey, whose undefeated run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile has made him a strong contender for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.
California’s racing landscape is changing, however, with concerns about declining quality despite the impressive performances this year. The success of horses like Super Corredora and Kopion, along with notable achievements from trainers and jockeys, illustrates that the state still produces elite competitors.
In the jockey category, Flavien Prat is vying for a second consecutive Eclipse Award, having led in stakes wins this season. Meanwhile, Bill Mott is a frontrunner for the trainer award, having guided champions like Sovereignty and Scylla throughout the year.
As the racing community looks forward to the Eclipse Awards, the focus remains on the resilience and talent emerging from California’s thoroughbred racing landscape. The upcoming awards ceremony will highlight the achievements of these remarkable horses and the teams behind them, reaffirming California’s place within the international racing scene.
