During an evening celebrating excellence in North American Thoroughbred racing, a star filly, as expected, was the culminating focus of attention at the 54th annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards ceremony Jan. 23 at The Breakers Palm Beach. Following a near-perfect campaign in 2024, Thorpedo Anna , the brilliant 3-year-old filly of last year, shot to victory as the unanimous choice for champion in that category, and she easily outpolled her counterparts for the most coveted prize in racing: Horse of the Year. 

The Horse of the Year announcement that came Thursday evening at the posh South Florida hotel was hardly a surprise, but when her name was called as 2024 Horse of the Year by National Thoroughbred Racing Association president and CEO Tom Rooney, it was no less appreciated by those in attendance. The sell-out crowd of 500 for the black-tie event clapped in approval for Thorpedo Anna, who became just the seventh female horse to win the award and the first since Havre de Grace  in 2011. She and Rachel Alexandra  in 2009 are the only ones to take the award as 3-year-old fillies. 

ECLIPSE AWARD WINNERS 

Two-Year-Old Male: Citizen Bull 

Two-Year-Old Filly: Immersive 

Three-Year-Old Male: Sierra Leone 

Three-Year-Old Filly: Thorpedo Anna 

Older Dirt Male: National Treasure (4) 

Older Dirt Female: Idiomatic (5) 

Male Sprinter: Straight No Chaser (5) 

Female Sprinter: Soul of an Angel (5) 

Male Turf Horse: Rebel’s Romance  (IRE) (6) 

Female Turf Horse: Moira (5) 

Steeplechase Horse: Snap Decision (10) 

Owner: Godolphin LLC 

Breeder: Godolphin 

Jockey: Flavien Prat 

Apprentice Jockey: Erik Asmussen 

Trainer: Chad Brown 

Horse of the Year: Thorpedo Anna