Ever wondered if age really defines greatness in the world of horse racing? Picture this: a seasoned champion stepping into a high-stakes showdown, proving that experience can trump all odds. But here's where it gets controversial—the 2025 Eclipse Awards for older dirt males is sparking fierce debates that could redefine what it means to be the ultimate thoroughbred star. And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about wins; it's about how we decide who truly deserves the crown.
The Eclipse Awards have been stirring up excitement and disagreements since they kicked off back in 1971, celebrating the finest in Thoroughbred racing. For newcomers, think of these as the Oscars of the horse world, where voters pick champions in various categories based on their performances. While some 2025 divisions are straightforward—like a clear favorite dominating from start to finish—the older dirt male category is turning into a full-blown battleground of opinions.
At the heart of this controversy is the question of whether Forever Young, the Japanese import who triumphed in the Breeders' Cup Classic (a prestigious Grade 1 race), should even be in the running for the older dirt male Eclipse Award. To clarify for beginners, Grade 1 races are the top-tier events in horse racing, akin to championship matches in sports, where only the elite compete.
Forever Young demonstrated why he's arguably the top older dirt horse to grace U.S. tracks in 2025 during the November 1 Breeders' Cup Classic. Facing a star-studded lineup, he outshone rivals like Sierra Leone (last year's Classic winner), Fierceness (victor of the Pacific Classic Stakes, another Grade 1), and Mindframe (who claimed the Stephen Foster Stakes, yet another elite race). It's likely that the final three contenders for this award will emerge from this quartet, making the decision anything but simple.
But here's where it gets controversial: Earlier that year, Forever Young edged out Romantic Warrior—widely hailed as the world's best racehorse—in a neck-and-neck thriller at the $20 million Saudi Cup (Grade 1). That clash was hailed as the global race of the year, showcasing Forever Young's prowess on the world stage. He also placed third in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (Grade 1) and clinched a lesser stakes race in Japan as preparation for the Breeders' Cup. Yet, despite these international triumphs, Forever Young only made a single appearance on U.S. soil.
And this is the part most people miss: How do we evaluate a horse with just one North American outing for an award tied to U.S. achievements? The Eclipse Awards don't impose strict eligibility rules; instead, they leave much to voter discretion. As the saying goes, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'—or in this case, beauty is in the ballot of the beholder.
The official voting guideline for equine categories is clear: Voters can only choose Thoroughbreds who raced at least once in 2025 within the United States or Canada. Many voters lean toward horses that are primarily based in the U.S. or made most of their starts here. For them, Forever Young might not even register as a contender.
Personally, I've always included international horses on my Eclipse Awards ballot when they achieve a standout victory in a major U.S. race, especially if no domestic horses stand out. This approach has been common in turf male and turf female divisions during years when European grass specialists dominated without strong U.S. competition building impressive records.
Forever Young poses a real puzzle for me. I firmly believe he was the premier older dirt male racing in America in 2025. He secured as many U.S. Grade 1 wins as Sierra Leone and Fierceness combined, and just one fewer than Mindframe, all while competing in only one event stateside. That said, the other three potential finalists are exceptional athletes with solid U.S. pedigrees. Let's delve deeper into their profiles to understand the dilemma.
Sierra Leone, reigning as the 2024 champion 3-year-old male after his Breeders' Cup Classic win, managed one victory in five 2025 races—but oh, what a victory it was! He charged from way back to claim the Whitney Stakes (Grade 1) at Saratoga in August by a full length. Sierra Leone never finished worse than third that year, earning Grade 1 runner-up spots in the Stephen Foster (to Mindframe), the Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade 1, to Antiquarian), and the Breeders' Cup Classic (to Forever Young). As a deep closer who relies on pace—meaning he needs the right setup to unleash his speed—he's brilliant when conditions align but can be erratic otherwise.
Mindframe kicked off 2025 with a hat trick of wins in the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (Grade 2), the Churchill Downs Stakes (Grade 1), and the Stephen Foster Stakes. He bested Nysos (who won the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile) in the Churchill Downs Stakes, along with speedster Book'em Danno, and turned the tables on Sierra Leone in the Stephen Foster. At that juncture, Mindframe seemed unbeatable, but misfortune struck: His rider was thrown after a hard bump early in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, forcing him to skip his next start. He then struggled, finishing unplaced in the Classic—his first race in over four months—suggesting the layoff dulled his edge. Mindframe had a blazing start but faded as the year progressed.
Fierceness competed in five races during 2025, breaking a track record for 1 1/16 miles in the Alysheba Stakes (Grade 2) in May and dominating the Pacific Classic (Grade 1) by 3 1/4 lengths over Preakness Stakes winner Journalism in August. He placed second in the Metropolitan Handicap (Grade 1) and third—beaten by just 1 1/2 lengths—in the Breeders' Cup Classic. His only off day was a fifth-place finish in the Whitney, yet credit goes to Fierceness and his team for consistently challenging elite fields. For a horse once known for unreliability, he delivered consistency from gate to wire in 2025.
Do any of these three outshine Forever Young's resume? It's a genuinely tough choice that promises an engaging outcome at the 55th Annual Eclipse Awards on January 22, 2026, at The Breakers Palm Beach. But here's where it gets controversial: Is prioritizing U.S.-based horses fair when a global superstar like Forever Young proves superior in key races? Should international achievements carry as much weight, or does proximity to home tracks matter more? And this is the part most people miss—what if Forever Young's single U.S. start was a masterstroke of strategy, highlighting his adaptability?
What do you think? Does Forever Young deserve the nod, or should tradition favor the locals? Share your take in the comments—do you agree with including international standouts, or disagree that one big win trumps a full season of stateside success? Let's discuss!
