2012 Eclipse Awards: Reddam Racing

J. Paul Reddam experienced the sort of year in 2012 that keeps most Thoroughbred owners committed to the business, despite its many uncertainties. The Ontario-born Reddam, 57, burst onto the national scene last spring when I’ll Have Another scored wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and entered Belmont Stakes week as one of the more popular, and, according to many, best candidates in recent years to end the Triple Crown drought.

Even though I’ll Have Another had to be abruptly retired the day before the Belmont, and was subsequently sold to Japan for stud duty, Reddam’s emergence, along with the rest of I’ll Have Another’s connections, proved to be one of the year’s high points. The former university philosophy professor turned successful mortgage lender was an engaging ambassador for the sport during I’ll Have Another’s winter and spring campaign, peppering his remarks to the press with quotes from the early 20th century thinker Ludwig Wittgenstein as well as astute handicapping observations.

Reddam Racing finished 2012 fourth in earnings among North American owners with more than $4.7 million and led all owners with more than $4.2 million in graded stakes earnings in North America. In addition to I’ll Have Another, Reddam campaigned graded stakes winners Quiet Oasis, Handsome Mike, and Know More, as well as the cleverly named He’s Had Enough, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Reddam got into Standardbred racing during his high school years in Ontario and bought his first Thoroughbred in 1998. He won Breeders’ Cup races with Wilko (2004 Juvenile) and Red Rocks (2006 Turf).