Good Night Shirt leads jumpers

Good Night Shirt, the leading candidate for the Eclipse Award for steeplechase horse, ended the 2008 National Steeplechase Association season with its top honors of leading horse by breaking the single-season record for earnings.

Good Night Shirt, owned by Sonny Via and trained by Jack Fisher, went 5 for 5 in 2008 and earned $485,520, breaking his own single-season earnings record set last year of $314,163. Among his 2008 wins were the Iroquois, Grand National, and Colonial Cup.

National Steeplechase Association champions are determined by the leading earners in six categories. The top honor for a steeplechase horse remains the Eclipse Award.

In the timber category, Bubble Economy, winner of the Virginia Gold Cup, took the top spot with $110,250 in earnings. In the first-year novice category, The Price of Love was best with $122,792 in earnings. In the second-year novice champion, Be Certain, winner of the National Hunt Cup, led with earnings of $168,138.

The leading filly or mare was Guelph, who had 4 wins in 6 starts and $123,424 in earnings. The leader of the 3-year-old category was Class Real Rock, with one win and $31,750 in earnings.

In human categories, Good Night Shirt's trainer and owner led the way. Trainer Jack Fisher finished the season with 26 wins from 122 races and $1,156,907 in earnings, while owner Sonny Via led with $487,020 in earnings. The leading jockey was Xaviere Aizpuru, with 22 wins from 83 races and earnings of $527,777.