PALM BEACH, Fla. – Nearly three decades after winning his first Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer, Bill Mott won his fourth for the job he did in 2023, campaigning three individual champions including Cody’s Wish, who was also crowned Horse of the Year. Mott, who the Eclipse Award in 1995, 1996, and 2011, became the seventh trainer to win at least four Eclipse Awards, joining Todd Pletcher (8), Bobby Frankel (5), Laz Barrera (4), D. Wayne Lukas (4), Bob Baffert (4), and Chad Brown (4). But the 28-year gap from his first Eclipse to his most recent is the longest in the 53-year history of the award. “I can’t say enough how really great it is,” Mott, 70, said afterward. “I guess the first year we won was in 1995 as trainer and to do it almost 30 years later reminds me how lucky I’ve been for such a long time. We’ve been very fortunate, with all the backing that we’ve had, the support.” Mott, inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 1998, made a point to have his three longtime assistants at the ceremony including Kenny McCarthy (Gulfstream/Churchill), Neil Poznansky (Payson Park/Saratoga) and Leana Willaford (Belmont), the latter having flown in from New York. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “My staff, the good job they’ve done, I think they’ve earned to be part of it and they’ve earned to be able to work with some of the good horses we’ve been able to work with,” Mott said. “You saw some of the results tonight.” In addition to Horse of the Year, Cody’s Wish won the Eclipse Award in the older male dirt division. Elite Power was a repeat winner in the male sprint division and Just F Y I was the 2-year-old filly champion. While Cody’s Wish and Elite Power are now retired, Mott still has some veteran performers expected to return in 2024, including War Like Goddess and Casa Creed. Just F Y I, Mott said, will likely return to the races at the beginning of March, perhaps in the Grade 2, $200,000 Davona Dale. “We’ll nominate for everything, and whatever fits in,” Mott said. “There are plenty of races throughout March we can look at.” Dorman family gets to share The family of Cody Dorman, the namesake of Cody’s Wish, got to share in his crowning achievement Thursday night. Tom Rooney, president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, invited Kylie Dorman, the younger sister of Cody Dorman, to the stage to read Cody’s Wish’s name as the winner of Horse of the Year. Kelly Dorman, Cody and Kylie’s father, gave the acceptance speech on behalf of Godolphin Racing, the owner/breeder of Cody’s Wish. Looking out at the audience, Kelly Dorman said, “You guys just blow me away. You put your heart in these horses day in and day out, it’s your life. I know a lot of these horses put their heart into you and that horse put his heart into us.” Dorman added that “can’t and quit are two words we never use and never will. You think [Cody’s Wish] can’t talk but he can and he won’t use those two words either. He spoke to Cody and to his little sister too.” Inspiral among 2024 returnees Six of the Eclipse champions from 2023 are staying in training for 2024 with the connections of Inspiral confirming that the female turf champion will return as a 5-year-old. Richard Thompson, the stud director for Cheveley Park, the owners/breeders of Inspiral, who won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in her lone U.S. start in 2023, confirmed plans for Inspiral while accepting her Eclipse Award. “I’m glad to say she stays in training as a 5-year-old,” hompson said. “Fingers crossed she stays fit and we can see her at her best on the racetrack a few more times before she retires to Cheveley Park.” Inspiral, a daughter Frankel trained by John and Thady Gosden, won three Group or Grade 1 stakes in 2023. For her career, Inspiral has won 9 of 13 starts. It was also announced this week that Idiomatic, the champion older female dirt horse, will return for a 5-year-old campaign. Pretty Mischievous, the 3-year-old filly champion, recently returned to trainer Brendan Walsh’s barn at Palm Meadows to prepare for a 4-year-old campaign. Goodnight Olive, the now two-time female sprint champion, was purchased at auction last November for $6 million by John Stewart and returned to trainer Chad Brown with the idea of running at 6. Fierceness, the 2-year-old male champion, is planning to make his 3-year-old debut in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.