As Todd Pletcher basks in the recognition of a record eighth Eclipse Award as the outstanding trainer, it is a glow he happily shares with a score of individuals and a deep, talented stable of equine athletes.
Though an individual award, Pletcher was quick to point out that it couldn't happen without the tireless help from his staff and support from owners,
"It means a lot to me and my staff but it's meaningful to me because when we have a year worthy of an Eclipse Award it means we've done really well with our horses and for our owners" said the 55-year-old Pletcher, who was announced as the top trainer over fellow finalists Chad Brown and Steve Asmussen Jan. 26 at the 52nd annual Eclipse Awards dinner. "For me, the real pride is not the Eclipse Award as leading trainer, it's the Eclipse Awards for the horses and their owners. When you see a moment like Mike Repole (co-owner of Belmont Stakes, G1, winner Mo Donegal ) running 1-2 in the Belmont and then putting his head down in disbelief over something that was a dream of his since he was a kid, that's what's exciting and rewarding for me."
It was a highlight reel of a year for the Hall of Famer, starting in January with a sweep of 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 out Mo Donegal and the filly Nest to run 1-2 in the Belmont Stakes, final leg of the Triple Crown. It reached its apex at year's end with two grade 1 Breeders' Cup wins by Forte (Juvenile) and Malathaat (Distaff) and a trio of runners favored to become champion of their division.
Pletcher's far-reaching stable, with New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Florida divisions, finished 2022 with 223 wins from 1,020 North American starts and career-best earnings of $30,482,937—no small accomplishment for the sport's all-time earnings leader ($451.2 million). Included were scores by Life Is Good in the Whitney Stakes (G1) and Nest in the Alabama Stakes (G1) among 17 grade 1 triumphs.
The eight-time recipient joined Frank Stronach and Stronach's Adena Springs breeding operation in becoming just the second person or entity to be honored that many times in a single category. It was also his first award since 2014, which came on the heels of 2004-07, 2010, and 2013 trophies.
