History
The Daily Racing Form (DRF) in 1936 began choosing a horse of the year and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America (TRA) inaugurated its own horse of the year award in 1950. During the 21 years the awards coexisted, the groups differed only four times.
In 1971, the DRF and TRA, together with the National Turf Writers Association, established the Eclipse Awards.
Named for the great English horse who won all 18 of his starts in the 18th century and sired the winners of 344 races, the awards go to the horse of the year as well to the year's outstanding horses in a number of categories, and to the outstanding trainers, jockeys, apprentice jockeys, owners, and breeders of the year.
There was a single award for the year's champion turf horse until 1978, when separate awards for male and female turf horses were established.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association replaced the TRA as a sponsor in 1998.