The fifty fifth Annual Eclipse Awards can be introduced on January 22, 2025 at The Breakers Palm Seashore, Florida resort. Annually, Thoroughbred racing has 17 classes for each people and horses to find out the very best races.
One such award is the Eclipse Award, which is given to an excellent apprentice jockey. The award has been introduced yearly because the first ceremony in 1971, with 55 riders receiving the award thus far (there was a tie in 1997). That is the equal of the Rookie of the Yr Award in different sports activities, and most of the winners have gone on to nice success within the saddle.
Let’s have a look again on the prime 10 riders who acquired this prestigious award.
All statistics listed below are as of January 5, 2026 and embody North American totals solely.
10. Drayden Van Dyke (2014 Distinguished Apprentice)
Whole wins: 870
Lifetime earnings: $55,656,252
Van Dyke burst onto the scene in Southern California throughout his rookie yr, profitable 192 races in 1,178 mounts. In 2014, he received his first Grade 1 win within the Sistus Stroll Packer Up Stakes, and added his first Grade 1 victory a number of months later within the Frank E. Kilro Mile Stakes at Ring Weekend.
Van Dijk had his greatest yr but in 2018. That yr, he received each the summer season and fall driving titles on the prestigious Del Mar meet and received his first Breeders’ Cup victory within the Turf Dash with jockey Stormy Liberal. His 22% profitable proportion this yr is the best of his profession to this point. Van Dyke retired in October 2023 and took a break from driving to deal with himself, however returned to driving with Gulfstream Park as his new house, profitable 52 races in 2024.
9. Sean Bridgemohan (1998)
Whole wins: 3,408
Lifetime earnings: $144,276,926
Initially from Jamaica, Bridgemohan immigrated to america within the early Nineteen Nineties and started driving at Calder Racetrack in Miami in 1997. In early 1998, he started driving on the grueling New York circuit, however rapidly started to ascertain a presence. On February 15, he received six races that day at Suidobashi. At yr’s finish, he had received 199 races and earned the Apprentice Eclipse.
After spending his first few years in New York, Bridgemohan has spent most of his profession driving within the Midwest. On the peak of his profession, he primarily spent his winters driving on the New Orleans Fairgrounds and his spring and fall at Churchill Downs. Maybe his best second within the saddle got here in 2002, when he guided grizzled New York veteran Even Apparel to victory within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup. Bridgemohan’s 3,408 wins are seventh amongst all jockeys to win the Apprentice Eclipse.
8. Paco Lopez (2008)
Whole wins: 4,367
Lifetime earnings: $165,993,970
Lopez, who’s initially from Mexico, additionally began on the South Florida circuit. He rode his first profitable horse at Calder in 2007 and received the Apprentice Eclipse the next yr with 229 wins within the season. His win charge of twenty-two% this yr remains to be tied for third in his profession.
Lopez did his greatest work at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. He has been the highest rider there 11 instances, the second-most titles in monitor historical past. In 2019, he received 109 races from 325 mounts, giving him a formidable win charge of 34%. That yr, he set profession highs in wins (283) and prize cash ($10.9 million), which he surpassed in 2021 with 321 wins and $12.2 million in prize cash. He additionally turned the seventh Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey to succeed in 3,000 profession wins in 2021.
On October 6, 2024, Lopez led Sam Governor to victory within the Keeneland Choose-sponsored Indian Summer time Stakes at Keeneland Race Course, incomes $4,000.th A triumph of his profession. He completed the 2024 season with $12,380,715, a brand new profession excessive that got here near his earlier excessive set in 2021. Lopez improved even additional in 2025, setting new private bests in each wins (325) and prize cash ($13,343,780).
7. Tyler Gaffalione (2015)
Whole wins: 2,698
Lifetime earnings: $193,655,830
The son of former jockey Steve Gaffalione, Tyler started driving at Gulfstream Park in 2014 and rapidly turned one in all Florida’s prime riders. In 2015, he received 217 races in 1,419 mounts, practically all of them at Gulfstream. In 2016, he received his third straight Summer time Meet driving title with Gulfstream.
Since then, Gaffalione has taken his equestrian skills to the nationwide stage. In 2018, he started driving at Keeneland throughout fall and spring meets, and the next yr he rode each meet at Saratoga Race Course for the primary time. He received his first G1 victory with Salty within the 2018 La Troyenne Stakes introduced by Twinspires.com, and his first Triple Crown race win with Struggle of Will within the 2019 Preakness Stakes. In 2021, he achieved a brand new career-best in winnings with $19.2 million, however that customary was short-lived in 2022, as he earned $27.3 million throughout a marketing campaign that included Breeders’ Cup wins in Caravelle (Turf Dash) and Surprise Wheel (Juvenile Fillies) amongst his seven Group 1 wins.
Gaffalione’s profession trajectory continued on an upward development in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, he ranked third amongst all North American jockeys with $28,987,644 in prize cash, sixth within the nation with 250 wins, and was a finalist for the Eclipse Award as Excellent Jockey. In 2025, he was ranked sixth within the U.S. with a complete purse of $20,503,817, and received three G1 races, together with the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes introduced by Qatar Racing.
6. Richard Finest (1981)
Whole wins: 4,450
Lifetime earnings: $160,205,725
Migliore, maybe higher recognized now as an American horse racing day analyst, has been a longtime presence within the New York jockey colony for many years. Migliore, a local of Lengthy Island, New York, received the Apprentice Eclipse in 1981 with 298 wins. This outcome remained a profession excessive all through Migliore’s profession, however he received three extra instances, profitable greater than 200 races a yr.
Migliore spent just about his complete 30-year profession in New York, apart from a number of years in Southern California late in his profession. He received 25 Group 1 races in his profession, together with three in 1997 with the John Kimmel-trained filly Hidden Lake. In 2008, he received his first Breeders’ Cup by main Desert Twine to an upset victory within the inaugural Turf Dash.
Throughout his time in New York, Migliore acquired a number of awards. In 1981 and 1985, he received the Eddie Arcaro Award as New York’s Excellent Rider. In 2003, he acquired the Mike Venezia Award for excellent sportsmanship and citizenship.
An accident in January 2010 ended Migliore’s driving profession. Along with my work with NYRA and FOX Sports activities, I’ve additionally labored at HRTV and XBTV.
5. Julian Leparou (2006)
Whole wins: 3,059
Lifetime earnings: $206,236,139
Born in France, Leparou immigrated to america in 2003 and started his equestrian profession at Saratoga in 2005. In 2006, he received three driving titles: the winter title at Turfway Park, the spring title at Keeneland, and the spring/summer season title at Churchill Downs. That very same yr, she received 12 graded stakes, three of them on prime turf filly Gorella. In 2006, he received a complete of 403 races, making him the highest American jockey. That season, he virtually unanimously received the Excellent Apprentice Eclipse Award and completed fourth within the Excellent Jockey voting.
Since then, Luparoo has established himself as one of many prime grass jockeys within the nation. He has received 10 driving titles at Keeneland alone and has ranked among the many prime 10 paid U.S. jockeys eight instances. In 2009, Luparoo received the Eclipse Award for Excellent Jockey, making him the fourth jockey to win the award as an apprentice after which as a journeyman. He most likely achieved his best success as an everyday rider for the nice racehorse Tepin. In 2015, they mixed to win 4 main stakes, together with the Breeders’ Cup Mile, one in all Luparoo’s seven Breeders’ Cup wins in his profession. In 2016, Tepin and Luparoo received the celebrated Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Luparoo achieved a big milestone by profitable $3,000 in 2024.th Together with his victory over Pike Place at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28, he turns into the eighth Eclipse Award winner within the Apprentice class, and can surpass $200 million in lifetime earnings in January 2025.
4. Money Asmussen (1979)
Whole wins: 923
Lifetime earnings: $24,406,833
Asmussen is likely one of the few riders to have achieved nice success on two continents. Born in South Dakota and raised in Texas, Asmussen started his profession in 1978 at age 16, spending his summers driving horses at Monmouth Park. That fall, he typically held doubleheaders, driving at Belmont Park throughout the day and at Meadowlands at night time.
In 1979, he received the Excellent Apprentice Eclipse Award for a 236-win season whereas driving principally in New York. The next yr, he did even higher, profitable 279 races and incomes greater than $5.3 million.
In 1982, Asmussen moved his rig to France on the behest of legendary proprietor Stavros Niarchos. Nearly instantly, Asmussen achieved nice success in Europe. In 1985, he received the Clavasche d’Or as France’s prime jockey, making him the fifth time to have received this award. Asmussen received 4 French derbies and one Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and led the Suave dancers to his homeland in 1991. Asmussen launched a distinct type of driving to Europe, wherein riders crouched low on prime of their horses. Though this was in distinction to the type widespread in Europe on the time, Asmussen’s type was rapidly adopted by many native riders.
Asmussen spent winters at his ranch in Laredo, Texas, often selecting up mounts in main American races. A lot of his rides in America have been on horses educated by his brother, Corridor of Famer Steve Asmussen. He received his solely Breeders’ Cup race in 1997 when he led Spinning World to a mile victory beneath coach Jonathan Pease. He additionally received the Arlington Million twice (1988 and 1992).
Asmussen retired from saddle racing in 2000 on the age of 39. He retired with greater than 3,000 race wins, together with Group 1 wins in seven nations.
3. Kent Desormeaux (1987)
Whole wins: 6,175
Lifetime earnings: $294,648,234
A local of Maurice, Louisiana, Desormeaux started driving horses on the age of 12 at a small non-stakes horse monitor within the Cajun area. I began driving at Evangeline Downs in 1986 on the age of 16. 4 months later, he started driving in Maryland and virtually immediately turned the circuit’s prime jockey.
His 1987 Eclipse Award-winning season was spectacular, profitable 450 races in over 2,200 mounts. After a dominant efficiency in 1988, Desormeaux set one in all racing’s unbreakable data in 1989. That yr, Desormeaux received an astonishing 597 races, breaking Chris McCarron’s file by 50 wins. To place that into perspective, solely three jockeys have achieved 400 wins in a yr within the final 10 years. He received the Eclipse Award for Excellent Jockey that very same yr, turning into the third jockey to win the Eclipse Award for Excellent Apprentice and Excellent Jockey. He’s additionally the final jockey to win the award with out profitable a G1 race.
After that stellar season, Desormeaux moved to Southern California in 1990. He received his first G1 race that yr within the San Juan Capistrano Stakes with Delegant. He received his second Eclipse Award for Excellent Jockey in 1992 and have become the common jockey for the 1993 Horse of the Yr, Kotashaan. In the identical yr, he acquired the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, voted for by his fellow jockeys, for demonstrating excessive requirements of conduct each on and off the racetrack.
Through the years, Desormeaux received six Breeders’ Cup races and 7 Triple Crown races. Three of those Triple Crown wins got here within the Kentucky Derby by Actual Quiet in 1998, Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000, and Large Brown in 2008. In 2004, Desormeaux was inducted into the Horse Racing Corridor of Fame. In 2019, he received 6,000 races, one in all solely 21 North American jockeys to succeed in that milestone. Desormeaux remains to be energetic and has eight wins in 2024.
2. Steve Causen (1977)
Whole wins: 954
Lifetime earnings: $13,526,857
Few, if any, jockeys have captured the creativeness of the American public as a lot as Steve Causen in 1977. He started his jockeying profession simply 10 days after his sixteenth birthday, driving at Churchill Downs in Could 1976. Six months later, he started driving at Suidobashi and rapidly ignited the horse racing world.
Causen got here to the eye of the horse racing world in January 1977. From January eleventh to January fifteenth, he received 21 races in simply 5 days at Water Duct, profitable 3 times in 5 races in a single day throughout that interval. He by no means slowed down all year long, profitable 487 races, together with 18 graded stakes, with a profitable proportion of 24%. Along with profitable the Excellent Apprentice Eclipse Award, he additionally received the Excellent Jockey Award, making him the one jockey in historical past to win each awards in the identical yr. He additionally acquired the Eclipse Award for Lifetime Achievement, one in all solely two energetic jockeys to obtain the award. His presence extends past the racing world, as he has been named Sports activities Illustrated Sportsman of the Yr, Sporting Information Sportsman of the Yr, and Related Press Male Athlete of the Yr. Earlier than he turned 18, Causen had change into probably the most high-profile athletes within the nation.
In 1978, it appeared unattainable that his profile would develop even additional, however that yr he achieved even higher heights. He received the Triple Crown with the nice stallion Affirmed and led his arch-rival Alidar to victories within the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
Sadly for Causen, the American magic ended shortly after profitable the Triple Crown. On the 1979 Santa Anita Park event, that they had a tricky time, struggling 110 consecutive losses. The stretch price Laffite Pincay Jr. the experience of Affirmed, which he rode for the remainder of his profession. Looking for a recent begin, Kosen determined to maneuver his profession to Europe. Aside from a quick keep at Santa Anita within the winter of 1984, he by no means rode repeatedly in america once more.
In Europe, Kosen made progress once more. He was named Champion Jockey in Britain 3 times and received the British Triple Crown races six instances. He’s the one jockey to win each the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby. In 12 years driving in Europe he added to his resume the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks, Irish 1000 Guineas, Irish Oaks, Irish Derby, Irish St Leger, French Derby and Italian Derby.
Causen retired from the saddle in 1992 and was inducted into the Horse Racing Corridor of Fame in 1994.
1. Chris McCarron (1974)
Whole wins: 7,141
Lifetime earnings: $263,986,005
For practically 30 years, McCarron was one in all America’s prime jockeys. He burst onto the scene in type in 1974, setting the file for many wins in a season with 547 wins. This file stood for 15 years till Desormeaux broke it in 1989.
That season was only the start of an amazing profession. Mr. McCarron received two extra instances and led the nation in earnings 4 instances. He received six Triple Crown races, together with two Kentucky Derbies (1987 Alisheba, 1994 Goforgin), 5 Breeders’ Cup Classics, and the 1980 Eclipse Award for Excellent Jockey. Though he spent most of his profession on the grueling Southern California circuit, his profitable proportion by no means fell beneath 15%. He was an everyday jockey for 3 horses of the yr: John Henry in 1984, Alisheba in 1988 and Tiznow in 2000.
In 1989, McCarron was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame. He raced for some time after that, however retired from full-time driving after profitable the 2002 Affirmed Handicap with Got here Residence. His 7,141 wins rank seventh in North American jockey historical past, and his $263.9 million in earnings rank eleventh. Of the ten gamers forward of him on that record, solely Pat Day has the next lifetime profitable proportion than McCarron’s 21%.
Word: This story was initially printed and up to date in 2021.
