Wise Dan voted 2012 Horse of the Year

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Wise Dan, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, has been voted the 2012 Horse of the Year. The announcement came Saturday night during the 42nd annual Eclipse Awards dinner at Gulfstream Park.

Wise Dan, owned by Morton Fink, was a finalist for thoroughbred racing's highest honor along with Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned and Kentucky Derby and Preakness champ I'll Have Another.

In addition to Horse of the Year, Wise Dan was also named champion Older Male and champion Male Turf Horse. Wise Dan, a gelding, is trained by Charles Lopresti.

"I couldn't be happier," exclaimed Fink.

Wise Dan is the first thoroughbred to sweep all three Eclipse Awards since John Henry in 1981.

I'll Have Another won the Eclipse Award as champion 3-Year-Old Male over Derby and Preakness runner-up Bodemeister and Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags.

"He's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of horse," said Doug O'Neill, trainer of I'll Have Another. "Anytime you win the Santa Anita Derby, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, that's quite a feat. The horse is a real champion."

The awards are voted on by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB) and Daily Racing Form.

The 2012 Eclipse Awards winners:

2-Year-Old Male: Shanghai Bobby

2-Year-Old Filly: Beholder

3-Year-Old Male: I'll Have Another

3-Year-Old Filly: Questing (GB)

Older Male: Wise Dan

Older Female: Royal Delta

Male Sprinter: Trinniberg

Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll

Male Turf Horse: Wise Dan

Female Turf Horse: Zagora (FR)

Steeplechase Horse: Pierrot Lunaire

Horse of the Year: Wise Dan

Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC

Breeder: Darley

Trainer: Dale Romans

Jockey: Ramon Dominguez

Apprentice Jockey: Jose Montano