Eclipse Award of Merit
The Eclipse Award of Merit is part of the American Eclipse Awards in Thoroughbred horse racing. The industry's highest honor, it is presented to an individual or entity displaying outstanding lifetime achievement in, and service to, the Thoroughbred industry.
First awarded in 1976, the Eclipse Award of Merit is voted on by a panel of representatives from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers Association.
Winners
- 2022 - No Award Presented
- 2021 - Earle I. Mack
- 2020 - No Award Presented
- 2019 - No Award Presented
- 2018 - Joe Harper
- 2017 - No Award Presented
- 2016 - Andrew Beyer / Steven Crist
- 2015 - Leonard Lavin
- 2014 - Tom Durkin
- 2013 - D. Wayne Lukas
- 2012 - Nick Nicholson
- 2011 - W. Cothran "Cot" Campbell
- 2010 - Claiborne Farm / Marylou Whitney
- 2009 - William S. Farish III, Lane's End Farm
- 2008 - Alice Headley Chandler of Mill Ridge Farm
- 2007 - No Award Presented
- 2006 - John A. Nerud
- 2005 - Penny Chenery
- 2004 - The Cella Family
- 2003 - Richard L. Duchossois
- 2002 - Ogden Phipps / Howard Battle
- 2001 - Harry T. Mangurian Jr. / Pete Pederson
- 2000 - Jim McKay
- 1999 - No award presented
- 1998 - D. G. Van Clief Jr.
- 1997 - Bob and Beverly Lewis
- 1996 - Allen E. Paulson
- 1995 - James E. "Ted" Bassett III
- 1994 - Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
- 1993 - Paul Mellon
- 1992 - Joe Hirsch / Robert P. Strub
- 1991 - Fred W. Hooper
- 1990 - Warner L. Jones Jr.
- 1989 - Michael Sandler
- 1988 - John Forsythe
- 1987 - James B. Faulconer
- 1986 - Herman Cohen
- 1985 - Keene Daingerfield
- 1984 - John R. Gaines
- 1981 - Bill Shoemaker
- 1980 - John D. Shapiro
- 1979 - Frank E. Kilroe
- 1978 - Ogden Mills Phipps
- 1977 - Steve Cauthen
- 1976 - Jack J. Dreyfus