2024 Eclipse Awards: Calumet Farm

Under the stewardship of Brad Kelley, historic Calumet Farm perennially ranks among the nation’s leading breeders by earnings. That was again the case in 2024, with horses bred by the farm amassing enough for a second-place finish to Godolphin on the earnings leaderboard and tying for third by North American graded stakes wins. Calumet, which races some of its own homebreds, also was the nation’s sixth-leading owner by earnings. Those statistics caught the eye of voters to again earn an Eclipse Award finalist nod among the nation’s outstanding breeders.

Calumet-bred runners in 2024 were led by multiple Grade 1 winner Far Bridge, by the late turf champion and Calumet stallion English Channel. Far Bridge, who won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in 2023, continued on in 2024 to win the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes and Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in New York for LSU Stables. He also was third in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes, continuing to showcase his love for the state’s turf courses. His career bankroll stands at more than $1.8 million.

:: Full list of 2024 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

It was a Calumet-bred exacta in the Joe Hirsch, as War Like Goddess, winner of the race in 2022 and 2023 over males, finished second, beaten just a half-length. The mare, also by English Channel, has been a stalwart among turf females for several years, and concluded her career last fall with 10 graded stakes wins and more than $3 million in earnings for owner George Krikorian. She won the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes last season to add to Calumet’s totals.

Calumet did campaign a Grade 1 winner in its own colors this year in Mixto. The horse, who was bred by Farfellow Farms and purchased by Calumet as a juvenile, captured the Grade 1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic.

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