As Todd Pletcher rejoices to be recognized with the record eighth Eclipse Award as outstanding coach, he happily shares the joy with so many individuals and a team of talented equestrians. , deep.
Despite being a personal award, Pletcher was quick to point out that it couldn’t have happened without the tireless help from his staff and support from the owners.
“It means a lot to me and my staff but it also means a lot to me because when we have a well-deserved year with the Eclipse Awards, it means we did a great job. to our horses and to our owners,” said 55-year-old Pletcher, who was announced as the top trainer against finalists Chad Brown and Steve Asmussen on May 26. 1 at the 52nd annual Eclipse Awards dinner. “For me, the real pride is not the Eclipse Award as top trainer, but the Eclipse Award for horses and When you see a moment like Mike Repole (co-owner of winner Belmont Stakes (G1) Mo Donegal ) running 1-2 in Belmont and then bowing his head in disbelief at something that’s been his dream since he was a kid, it’s been exciting and rewarding for me.”
It was a Hall of Famer’s one-year standout reel, which began in January with winning the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) with life is good and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) with Colonel Liam . In June, he sent Mo Donegal and the filth Nest to run 1-2 in the Belmont Stakes, the last leg of the Triple Crown. It peaked at the end of the year, winning the Level 1 Breeder’s Cup twice before Forte (Adolescent) and Malathaat (Distaff) and a trio of athletes are prioritized to become champions of their division.
Pletcher’s far-reaching stability, with divisions in New York, New Jersey, Kentucky and Florida, ended 2022 with 223 wins from 1,020 North American starts and the highest career earnings of 30,482. $.937—no small feat for the sport’s all-time earnings leader ($451.2 million). Includes Life Is Good in the Whitney Stakes (G1) and Nest in the Alabama Stakes (G1) scores out of 17 class 1 wins.
Eight-time recipients participated in Frank Stronach and Stronach’s Adena Springs breeding activity to become the second individual or organization to be honored so many times in a single category. It is also his first award since 2014, following the 2004-07, 2010 and 2013 titles.
