Horse Racing Legends Cody’s Wish, White Abarrio, and More Set to Contend for Prestigious Eclipse Award

As 2023 winds up and ushers in the new year, with some of the champion horses reaching the peak of their careers, it’s time to hand out the laurels. The horse racing world, besides offering an electrifying experience, never fails to praise the deserving. So, to honor the top athletes of the sport, three independent bodies had created an award system in 1971, which is still going strong in 2024. In the same vein, this year’s nominations are quite impressive.

The American Thoroughbred horse racing award, the Eclipse Award, has received worthy owners over the years. Boasting 17 categories, the Eclipse Award differs from a conventional official national award. At the end of every year, the finalists are cherry picked by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, Daily Racing Form and National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Likewise, this year, the combined effort of all three bodies has placed two stellar horses among the finalists.

Horse racing icons touted to be among the most decorated stallions

Recognizing excellence through the past year, the three decision-making bodies have finally come to a decision. On Saturday, January 6, they have announced the finalists in 17 categories. The final winners will be announced on January 25, at the 53rd annual Eclipse Awards ceremony. Taking a look at the top picks as per the panel’s call, two equines, Cody’s Wish and White Abarrio, are rooting for the topmost American Horse of the Year trophy. Looking back at their 2023 displays, both their journeys stood as a testament to their unending pluck.

Cody’s Wish, the recently retired racehorse, has bagged two Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile trophies. Starting off his five-year-old season with 2023 Churchill Downs Stakes gold, he had ended his season with a dramatic 2023 Preakness Stakes win. Like Godolphin’s Michael Banahan had said, “a Hollywood ending to a Hollywood story”. But the fans felt the most Hollywood tearjerker when his namesake Cody Dorman attended the stud’s Dirt Mile triumph moment. Though we’ve lost the special boy soon after, Cody’s Wish promised to remember him through his work. Speaking of the other award line specialist, White Abarrio was also phenomenal last year.

A hint of why White Abarrio needs to go down in the annals of history

Bred by the popular Spendthrift Farm, White Abarrio has tasted success like no other. In 2022, racing with the best of the best three-year-olds in the US circuit, Abarrio had clinched his Florida Derby trophy, one of the most notable in his purse.

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Moving on, in 2023, like Cody’s Wish, his worthy counterpart, Abarrio had won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park and the Grade I Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Among other Eclipse Awards contenders this time, legends like Echo Zulu, Arcangelo and Pretty Mischievous have also received nominations in their respective categories. Keep your hopes up for the 25th January extravaganza.

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