Newsdate: Mon, 19, Jan 2015 - 07:58 am
Location: HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida

On Saturday, California Chrome was honored as Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards at Hallandale Beach, Florida. The horse, winner of last year's Kentucky Derby and the Preakness captivated the racing world as the product of an $8,000 mare bred to a $2,500 stallion.

California Chrome and jockey Victor Espinosa

On Saturday, California Chrome, the product of an $8,000 mare bred to a $2,500 stallion and the winner of last year's Kentucky Derby and the Preakness was honored as Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards at Hallandale Beach, Florida.
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Although California Chrome's bid to become the sports first Triple Crown winner since 1978 failed at the Belmont Stakes when he came in fourth, his spirit and beauty enchanted racing fans throughout the world.

California Chrome also won the Eclipse for 3-year-old males, getting more than three times the first-place nods that went to Breeders' Cup Classic champion Bayern.

"This has been an incredible journey," said Steve Coburn, California Chrome's co-owner.

Breeders' Cup Award champion Bayern also was up for the award along wtih Main Sequence, who went four for four in 2014 all on turf tracks.

Todd Pletcher extended his record with a seventh Eclipse award as top trainer, all in the past 11 years. Chad Brown was second and Art Sherman -- California Chrome's trainer -- was third.

Javier Castellano won his second straight Eclipse award in the jockey division, making the 11th rider in history to take that honor in consecutive years. Castellano was the top choice on 77 percent of the ballots cast.

Main Sequence got a pair of Eclipse awards, in both the older male category -- edging Palice Malice and as a runaway winner in the male turf division over Wise Dan.