American Champion Steeplechase Horse

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The American Champion Steeplechase Horse is an American horse racing honor awarded as part of the Eclipse Award program since its inception in 1971. It is awarded annually to the top horse in steeplechase racing.

Contents

Flatterer is the only horse to win the award four times in a row, his last coming at age 7 in 1986. Lonesome Glory has won the Award five times, more than any other horse, and was the oldest ever when he won it for the final time at age 11.

Honorees

Year
Horse
AgeTrainer
Owner
2023Merry Maker6
2022 Hewick 7John Joseph HanlonTJ McDonald
2021The Mean Queen (IRE)5Keri BrionButtonwood Farm
2020Moscato9Jack FisherBruton Street
2019Winston C5Jonathan E. SheppardHudson River Farms
2018Zanjabeel5Richard J. HendriksRosbrian Farm and Meadow Run Farm
2017Scorpiancer8Jack FisherBruton Street-US
2016Rawnaq9Cyril MurphyIrvin S. Naylor
2015Dawalan5Cyril MurphyIrvin S. Naylor
2014Demonstrative7Richard ValentineJacqueline Ohrstrom
2013 Divine Fortune 10 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape & Jonathan E. Sheppard
2012 Pierrot Lunaire 8Bruce MillerMrs. Calvin Houghland
2011 Black Jack Blues 8Joseph W. Delozier IIIIrvin S. Naylor
2010 Slip Away 7 Thomas H. Voss Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
2009 Mixed Up 10 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape
2008 Good Night Shirt 7Jack FisherHarold A. Via, Jr.
2007 Good Night Shirt 6Jack FisherHarold A. Via, Jr.
2006 McDynamo 9 Sanna Hendriks Michael J. Moran
2005 McDynamo 8Sanna HendriksMichael J. Moran
2004 Hirapour 8P. Douglas FoutEldon Farm Racing Stable
2003 McDynamo 6Sanna HendriksMichael J. Moran
2002 Flat Top 9Janet ElliotNancy Gerry
2001 Pompeyo 7 Sanna Hendriks Augustin Stable
2000 All Gong 6Bruce MillerCalvin Houghland
1999 Lonesome Glory 11Bruce MillerKay Jeffords
1998 Flat Top 5Janet ElliotNancy Gerry
1997 Lonesome Glory 9Bruce MillerKay Jeffords
1996 Correggio 5Charles O'Brien William C. Lickle
1995 Lonesome Glory 7Bruce MillerKay Jeffords
1994 Warm Spell 4John K. GriggsJohn K. Griggs
1993 Lonesome Glory 5Bruce MillerKay Jeffords
1992 Lonesome Glory 4Bruce MillerKay Jeffords
1991 Morley Street 7 Toby Balding Michael Jackson Bloodstock
1990 Morley Street 6 Toby Balding Michael Jackson Bloodstock
1989 Highland Bud 4 Jonathan E. Sheppard Jesse M. Henley Jr.
1988 Jimmy Lorenzo 6 Jonathan E. Sheppard Bertram R. Firestone
1987 Inlander 6Charles Fenwick Jr. Dogwood Stable
1986 Flatterer 7 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape
1985 Flatterer 6 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape
1984 Flatterer 5 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape
1983 Flatterer 4 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape
1982 Zaccio 6 W. Burling Cocks Bunny Murdock
1981 Zaccio 5 W. Burling Cocks Bunny Murdock
1980 Zaccio 4 W. Burling Cocks Bunny Murdock
1979 Martie's Anger 4 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape
1978 Cafe Prince 8 Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable
1977 Cafe Prince 7 Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable
1976 Straight and True 6 Michael Smithwick Sr. Lillian Bostwick Phipps
1975 Life's Illusion 4 Paul R. Fout Virginia Guest
1974 Gran Kan 8Clarence Furr Florence L. Clark
1973 Athenian Idol 5 Jonathan E. Sheppard William L. Pape
1972 Soothsayer 5Peter M. Howe Marion duPont Scott
1971Shadow Brook7 Sidney Watters Jr. Stephen C. Clark Jr.

Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards

YearHorseAgeTrainerOwner
1970Top Bid6D.M SmithwickMrs Ogden Phipps
1969 L'Escargot 6Dan Moore Raymond R. Guest
1968Bon Nouvel8D.M SmithwickMrs. Theodora A. Randolph
1967Quick Pitch7E.B RyanF.P Ryan
1966Mako (DRF)6D.M SmithwickMrs Ogden Phipps
1966 Tuscalee (TRA)6Joe Aitcheson, Sr.Alfred H. Smith
1965Bon Nouvel5D.M SmithwickMrs. Theodora A. Randolph
1964Bon Nouvel4D.M SmithwickMrs. Theodora A. Randolph
1963Amber Driver6S. Watters JrMrs. S.C Clark Jr
1962Barnabys Bluff4G.H BostwickG.H Bostwick
1961Peal5C.V.B Cushman JrH.A Love
1960Benguala6R.G WoolfMontpelier
1959Ancestor10D.M SmithwickMrs Ogden Phipps
1958 Neji 8D.M Smithwick Lillian Bostwick Phipps
1957 Neji 7D.M Smithwick Lillian Bostwick Phipps
1956Shipboard6R.G WoolfMontpelier
1955 Neji 5 Pete Bostwick Lillian Bostwick Phipps
1954King Commander5E.E WeymouthMrs L.R Troiano
1953The Mast6J.E Ryan Mrs. J.R.H Thouron
1952Jam (DRF)5M.H Dixon Jr.J.F McHugh
1952 Oedipus (TRA)6 James E. Fitzsimmons Lillian Bostwick Phipps
1951 Oedipus 5 James E. Fitzsimmons Lillian Bostwick Phipps
1950 Oedipus 4 James E. Fitzsimmons Lillian Bostwick Phipps

Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards

YearHorseAgeTrainerOwner
1949Trough Hill7J.T SkinnerMrs. S.C Clark Jr
1948American Way6J.T SkinnerRockeby Stable
1947War Battle6K.MillerK.Miller
1946Elkridge8Thomas HitchcockKent Miller
1945Mercator6W.G JonesW.H Lipscomb
1944Rouge Dragon6W.G JonesM.A Cushman
1943Brother Jones7W.R MillerH.E Talbott
1942Elkridge4Thomas HitchcockKent Miller
1941Speculate5W. PassmoreBayard Sharp
1937Jungle King7V. PowersGreentree Stable
1936 Bushranger 6J. Howard LewisJoeseph Widener

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