By Newswriter — Following in the footsteps of the great Cigar, Korea Racing Authority’s Knicks Go became the first Maryland-bred to be named Horse of the Year since 1996.
The owners received the honor during the 51st annual Eclipse Awards ceremony held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California Thursday night.
Essential Quality was named champion three-year-old, becoming only the sixth horse in history to win championships as a juvenile and again at three.
During the ceremony, it became known that the results of the necropsy report on the death of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit will be announced Friday at noon EDT.
Eclipse Award Winners by Category
• Two-Year-Old Male: Corniche
• Two-Year-Old Filly: Echo Zulu
• Three-Year-Old Male: Essential Quality
• Three-Year-Old Filly: Malathaat
• Older Dirt Male: Knicks Go (5)
• Older Dirt Female: Letruska (5)
• Male Sprinter: Jackie’s Warrior (3)
• Female Sprinter: Ce Ce (5)
• Male Turf Horse: Yibir (GB) (3)
• Female Turf Horse: Loves Only You (JPN) (5)
• Steeplechase Horse: The Mean Queen (IRE) (5)
• Owner: Godolphin LLC
• Breeder: Godolphin LLC
• Jockey: Joel Rosario
• Apprentice Jockey: Jessica Pyfer
• Trainer: Brad Cox
