“It’s some kind of thrill to win this award that I only dreamed of maybe 10, 15 years ago,’’ owner Rick Porter said.
“She’s the most deserving horse. She had the most memorable campaign and accounted for the most excitement at the top level of the sport throughout the year.’’
Acclamation finished second with 26 first-place votes and 552 points. Cape Blanco was third with nine first-place votes and 325 points. Game On Dude wasn’t among the three finalists, but earned 10 first-place votes.
Havre de Grace was also honored with the older female trophy. She is trained by Larry Jones and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, who earned jockey of the year. She’s in training at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas in preparation for a 4-year-old campaign this year.
“She’s a racing star and racing needs stars,’’ Jones said, crediting Porter for keeping her on the track and out of the more lucrative breeding shed. “Having insurance on this horse is going to cost him as much as she’ll probably win.’’
Havre de Grace won the Woodward against male horses last year, then challenged them again and finished fourth in the BC Classic.
“It didn’t go our way, but we never looked back and said it was a mistake,’’ Jones said.
Earlier last year, she won the Apple Blossom Handicap and the Beldame, two of her three Grade 1 stakes wins.
“She did everything Larry and I asked of her and then some,’’ Porter said, accepting her first trophy of the night. “She’s an owner’s dream come true. She’s made racing for me and many others so thrilling. She is the best.’’
Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom earned 3-year-old male honors at the awards honoring the top horses and humans of the year in racing.
Bill Mott won trainer honors, capping a year in which he swept the top two races at the Breeders’ Cup.
Mott earned his third career Eclipse over fellow Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher, who led the nation’s trainers in purse earnings with $16.8 million.
