The Eclipse Award for Photo by it's nature has to be tough to select... One image from hundreds and hundreds of thousands a year. The photo is supposed to capture the 'essence of racing'. Well, I guess the essence of racing boils down to jockeys falling or jumping off horses, because the award remarkably seems to go in that direction on a far too regular basis... Not trying to take away from the quality of the images, but isn't it odd that these themes keep being repeated? Below are 6 of your winners since 1999..

2012




2006

2009




2007

1999




2008

Here's 2010 that seems to capture the 'essence' a lot better...

2010

Completely agree.

I'm surprised that more workout photos - sunrise, morning fog etc. don't win.

This was a shoein. It makes it look like Zenyatta won. Seriously though, this at least broke up the regular falling horse/falling jockey shot. 2008 Frankie is great though with the misspelled BC sign behind him.

Huh, never realized they'd spelled it "Junenile Turf." I guess the brain just autocorrects in your head. Did anybody comment on it at the time?