# American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse

The title of American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up, for performances on dirt and main track racing surfaces. In 1971, it became part of the Eclipse Awards program as the award for Champion Older Male Horse.
The award originated in 1936 when the Daily Racing Form (DRF) began naming an annual champion. In the same year, the Baltimore-based Turf and Sports Digest magazine instituted a similar award. Starting in 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) began naming its own champion. The following list provides the name of the horses chosen by these organizations. Whenever there were different champions named, the horses are listed side-by-side with the one chosen as champion by the Daily Racing Form noted with the letters (DRF), the one chosen by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations by the letters (TRA) and the one chosen by Turf and Sports Digest by the letters (TSD). Prior to 1971 this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse". The Daily Racing Form version was open to any horse, three years old and up and this award was given to some Champions at the age of three, such as Citation, Buckpasser, Damascus and Arts and Letters.
Champions from 1887 through 1935 were selected retrospectively by a panel of experts as published by The Blood-Horse magazine.
In 2015, the Daily Racing Form, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the National Turf Writers Association decided that the award would be renamed and awarded to older horses proficient in dirt and main track races.

## Honorees
### Eclipse Award for Champion Older Dirt Male

| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Owner |
| 2024 | National Treasure | 4 | Bob Baffert | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables , Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan |
| 2023 | Cody's Wish | 5 | William I. Mott | Godolphin |
| 2022 | Flightline | 4 | John Sadler | Hronis Racing |
| 2021 | Knicks Go | 5 | Brad H. Cox | Korea Racing Authority |
| 2020 | Improbable | 4 | Bob Baffert | WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and SF Racing LLC |
| 2019 | Vino Rosso | 4 | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable (Mike Repole) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola) |
| 2018 | Accelerate | 5 | John Sadler | Hronis Racing |
| 2017 | Gun Runner | 4 | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm |
| 2016 | California Chrome | 5 | Art Sherman | California Chrome LLC |
| 2015 | Honor Code | 4 | Claude R. McGaughey III | Lane's End Racing |
| 2014 | Main Sequence | 5 | Graham Motion | Flaxman Holdings |
| 2013 | Wise Dan | 6 | Charles Lopresti | Morton Fink |
| 2012 | Wise Dan | 5 | Charles Lopresti | Morton Fink |
| 2011 | Acclamation | 5 | Donald Warren | Old English Rancho |
| 2010 | Blame | 4 | Albert Stall Jr. | Claiborne Farm |
| 2009 | Gio Ponti | 4 | Christophe Clement | Castleton Lyons |
| 2008 | Curlin | 4 | Steve Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables/Midnight Cry Stables |
| 2007 | Lawyer Ron | 4 | Todd A. Pletcher | Stonewall Farm |
| 2006 | Invasor | 4 | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable |
| 2005 | Saint Liam | 5 | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | M/M William K. Warren Jr. |
| 2004 | Ghostzapper | 4 | Robert J. Frankel | Frank Stronach |
| 2003 | Mineshaft | 4 | Neil J. Howard | W. S. Farish/W. T. Webber/J. Elkins |
| 2002 | Left Bank | 5 | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael B. Tabor |
| 2001 | Tiznow | 4 | Jay M. Robbins | Cee's Stable |
| 2000 | Lemon Drop Kid | 4 | Scotty Schulhofer | Jeanne G. Vance |
| 1999 | Victory Gallop | 4 | W. Elliott Walden | Prestonwood Farm |
| 1998 | Skip Away | 5 | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine |
| 1997 | Skip Away | 4 | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine |
| 1996 | Cigar | 6 | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson |
| 1995 | Cigar | 5 | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson |
| 1994 | The Wicked North | 5 | David Bernstein | Philip & Sophie Hersh Trust |
| 1993 | Bertrando | 4 | Robert J. Frankel | Ed Nahem & Marshall Naify |
| 1992 | Pleasant Tap | 5 | Christopher Speckert | Buckland Farm |
| 1991 | Black Tie Affair | 5 | Ernie T. Poulos | Jeffrey Sullivan |
| 1990 | Criminal Type | 5 | D. Wayne Lukas | Calumet & Jurgen K. Arnemann |
| 1989 | Blushing John | 4 | Richard J. Lundy | Allen E. Paulson |
| 1988 | Alysheba | 4 | Jack Van Berg | Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer |
| 1987 | Ferdinand | 4 | Charlie Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck |
| 1986 | Turkoman | 4 | Gary F. Jones | Corbin J. Robinson |
| 1985 | Vanlandingham | 4 | Claude R. McGaughey III | Loblolly Stable |
| 1984 | Slew o' Gold | 4 | John O. Hertler | Equusequity Stable |
| 1983 | Bates Motel | 4 | John H. M. Gosden | Jacqueline Phillips & Michael Riordan |
| 1982 | Lemhi Gold | 4 | Laz Barrera | Aaron U. Jones |
| 1981 | John Henry | 6 | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable |
| 1980 | Spectacular Bid | 4 | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm |
| 1979 | Affirmed | 4 | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm |
| 1978 | Seattle Slew | 4 | Douglas R. Peterson | K. & M. Taylor/J. & S. Hill |
| 1977 | Forego | 7 | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Lazy F Ranch |
| 1976 | Forego | 6 | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Lazy F Ranch |
| 1975 | Forego | 5 | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Lazy F Ranch |
| 1974 | Forego | 4 | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Lazy F Ranch |
| 1973 | Riva Ridge | 4 | Lucien Laurin | Estate of C. T. Chenery |
| 1972 | Autobiography | 4 | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer |
| 1971 | Ack Ack | 5 | Charlie Whittingham | Buddy Fogelson |

### Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards

| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Owner |
| 1970 | Fort Marcy (DRF) | 6 | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stables |
| 1970 | Nodouble (TRA) | 5 | J. Bert Sonnier | Gene Goff |
| 1969 | Arts and Letters (DRF) | 3 | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stables |
| 1969 | Nodouble (TRA) | 4 | J. Bert Sonnier | Gene Goff |
| 1968 | Dr. Fager | 4 | John A. Nerud | William L. McKnight |
| 1967 | Damascus (DRF) | 3 | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft |
| 1967 | Buckpasser (TRA) (TSD) | 4 | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps |
| 1966 | Buckpasser (DRF) | 3 | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps |
| 1966 | Bold Bidder (TRA) | 4 | Woody Stephens | John R. Gaines |
| 1965 | Roman Brother | 4 | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm |
| 1964 | Kelso | 7 | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable |
| 1963 | Kelso | 6 | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable |
| 1962 | Kelso | 5 | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable |
| 1961 | Kelso | 4 | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable |
| 1960 | Bald Eagle | 5 | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable |
| 1959 | Sword Dancer (DRF) | 3 | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable |
| 1959 | Round Table (TRA) | 5 | William Molter | Kerr Stable |
| 1958 | Round Table | 4 | William Molter | Kerr Stable |
| 1957 | Dedicate | 5 | G. Carey Winfrey | Jan Winfrey Burke |
| 1956 | Swaps | 4 | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth |
| 1955 | High Gun | 4 | Max Hirsch | King Ranch |
| 1954 | Native Dancer | 4 | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II |
| 1953 | Tom Fool | 4 | Duval A. Headley | Greentree Stables |
| 1952 | Crafty Admiral | 4 | Robert B. Odom | Charfran Stable |
| 1951 | Hill Prince (DRF) | 4 | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery |
| 1951 | Citation (TSD) | 6 | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1950 | Noor | 5 | Burley Parke | Charles S. Howard |

### Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards

| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Owner |
| 1949 | Coaltown | 4 | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1948 | Citation (DRF) | 3 | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1948 | Shannon II (TSD) | 7 | William Molter | Neil S. McCarthy |
| 1947 | Armed | 6 | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1946 | Armed | 5 | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1945 | Stymie | 4 | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs |
| 1944 | Devil Diver | 5 | John M. Gaver Sr. | Helen Hay Whitney |
| 1943 | Market Wise (TSD) | 5 | George W. Carroll | Louis Tufano |
| 1943 | Devil Diver (DRF) | 4 | John M. Gaver Sr. | Helen Hay Whitney |
| 1942 | Whirlaway | 4 | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1941 | Mioland (DRF) | 4 | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard |
| 1941 | Big Pebble (TSD) | 5 | William B. Finnegan | Edward S. Moore |
| 1940 | Challedon | 4 | Louis J. Schaefer | William L. Brann |
| 1939 | Kayak II | 4 | Horatio Luro | Charles S. Howard |
| 1938 | Seabiscuit | 5 | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard |
| 1937 | Seabiscuit | 4 | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard |
| 1936 | Discovery | 5 | Bud Stotler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II |

### The Blood-Horse retrospective champions

| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Owner |
| 1935 | Discovery | 4 | Bud Stotler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II |
| 1934 | Equipose | 6 | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney |
| 1933 | Equipose | 5 | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney |
| 1932 | Equipose | 4 | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney |
| 1931 | Sun Beau | 6 | Andy Schuttinger | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1930 | Sun Beau | 5 | William A. Crawford | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1930 | Blue Larkspur | 4 | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley |
| 1929 | Sun Beau | 4 | Andrew G. Blakely | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1929 | Diavolo | 4 | James E. Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable |
| 1928 | Mike Hall | 4 | Walter W. Taylor | Hal Price Headley |
| 1927 | Chance Play | 4 | John I. Smith | Log Cabin Stable |
| 1926 | Sarazen | 5 | Max Hirsch | Virginia Fair Vanderbilt |
| 1925 | Sarazen | 4 | Max Hirsch | Virginia Fair Vanderbilt |
| 1924 | Epinard | 4 | H. Eugene Leigh | Pierre Wertheimer |
| 1923 | Grey Lag | 5 | Sam Hildreth | Harry F. Sinclair |
| 1922 | Exterminator | 7 | Eugene Wayland | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1922 | Grey Lag | 4 | Sam Hildreth | Harry F. Sinclair |
| 1921 | Exterminator | 6 | Willie Knapp | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1921 | Mad Hatter | 5 | Sam Hildreth | Harry F. Sinclair |
| 1920 | Exterminator | 5 | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1919 | Cudgel | 5 | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross |
| 1919 | Sun Briar | 4 | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer |
| 1918 | Cudgel | 4 | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross |
| 1917 | Old Rosebud | 6 | Frank D. Weir | F. D. Weir & Hamilton Applegate |
| 1916 | Roamer | 5 | A. J. Goldsborough | Andrew Miller |
| 1916 | Short Grass | 8 | John J. Flannigan | Emil Herz |
| 1915 | Roamer | 4 | A. J. Goldsborough | Andrew Miller |
| 1914 | Great Britain | 4 | John Walters | George M. Hendrie |
| 1914 | Borrow | 6 | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney |
| 1913 | Whisk Broom II | 6 | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney |
| 1912 | Star Charter | 4 | John F. Schorr | John W. Schorr |
| 1911 | Plate Glass | 5 | Jake Byer | Philip S. P. Randolph |
| 1910 | Fitz Herbert | 4 | Sam Hildreth | Charles Kohler |
| 1910 | Ballot | 6 | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene |
| 1909 | King James | 4 | Sam Hildreth | Sam Hildreth |
| 1908 | Ballot | 4 | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene |
| 1907 | Nealon | 4 | Frank M. Taylor | Charles E. Durnell |
| 1906 | Go Between | 5 | William Shields | Edward R. Thomas |
| 1905 | Ort Wells | 4 | Enoch Wishard | John A. Drake |
| 1905 | Delhi | 4 | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene |
| 1904 | Hermis | 5 | William Shields | Edward R. Thomas |
| 1903 | Hermis | 4 | William Shields | Edward R. Thomas |
| 1903 | Waterboy | 4 | A. Jack Joyner | James Ben Ali Haggin |
| 1902 | Gold Heels | 4 | Matthew M. Allen | Fred C. McLewee & Diamond Jim Brady |
| 1901 | Banastar | 6 | Charles F. Hill | Clarence H. Mackay |
| 1900 | Kinley Mack | 4 | Peter Wimmer | Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie |
| 1899 | Voter | 5 | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene |
| 1898 | Ornament | 4 | Charles E. Patterson | H. P. Headley & W. P. Norton |
| 1897 | Ben Brush | 4 | Hardy Campbell Jr. | Michael F. Dwyer |
| 1896 | Henry of Navarre | 5 | John J. Hyland | August Belmont Jr. |
| 1895 | Henry of Navarre | 4 | John J. Hyland | August Belmont Jr. |
| 1894 | Clifford | 4 | H. Eugene Leigh | H. Eugene Leigh & Robert L. Rose |
| 1894 | Ramapo | 4 | John J. Hyland | David Gideon & John Daly |
| 1893 | Lamplighter | 4 | John Huggins | Pierre Lorillard IV |
| 1893 | Tammany | 4 | Matthew Byrnes | Marcus Daly |
| 1892 | Longstreet | 6 | Hardy Campbell Jr. | Michael F. Dwyer |
| 1891 | Longstreet | 5 | Hardy Campbell Jr. | Michael F. Dwyer |
| 1890 | Salvator | 4 | Matthew Byrnes | James Ben Ali Haggin |
| 1890 | Kingston | 6 | Hardy Campbell Jr. | Michael F. Dwyer |
| 1889 | The Bard | 6 | John Huggins | Alexander Cassatt |
| 1889 | Kingston | 5 | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable |
| 1888 | none selected | n/a | n/a | |
| 1887 | Troubadour | 5 | John W. Rogers | Samuel S. Brown |

### Thoroughbred Heritage retrospective champions

| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Owner |
| 1886 | Troubadour | 4 | John W. Rogers | Samuel S. Brown |
| 1885 | Freeland | 6 | John W. Rogers | Edward Corrigan |
| 1884 | General Monroe | 6 | Walter C. Rollins | E. J. McElmeel |
| 1884 | Drake Carter | 4 | Green B. Morris | Morris & Patton |
| 1883 | Eole | 5 | Evert V. Snedecker | Frederick Gebhard |
| 1882 | Hindoo | 4 | James G. Rowe Sr. | Dwyer Brothers Stable |
| 1881 | Glenmore | 6 | William Jennings Sr. | William Jennings Sr. |
| 1881 | Checkmate | 6 | not found | James T. Williams |
| 1880 | Monitor | 4 | R. Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard |
| 1879 | Bramble | 4 | James G. Rowe Sr. | Dwyer Brothers Stable |
| 1878 | Parole | 5 | William Brown | Pierre Lorillard IV |
| 1877 | Ten Broeck | 5 | Harry Colston | Frank B. Harper |
| 1877 | Parole | 4 | William Brown | Pierre Lorillard IV |
| 1876 | Tom Ochiltree | 4 | R. Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard |
| 1876 | Ten Broeck | 4 | Harry Colston | Frank B. Harper |
| 1875 | Preakness | 5 | Charles S. Littlefield | Milton H. Sanford |
| 1875 | Springbok | 5 | Col. David McDaniel | Col. David McDaniel |
| 1874 | Springbok | 4 | Col. David McDaniel | Col. David McDaniel |