Mr. Fitz Award

The Mr. Fitz Award is presented annually by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) for typifying the spirit of horse racing. The award is named in honor of Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.

The Mr. Fitz award has been presented since 1981 in honor of the late horse trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, who trained horses such as 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua and 1957 Horse of the Year Bold Ruler.^[1]

The award recognizes an individual who reflects "the spirit of thoroughbred racing."^[2] The National Turf Writers Association presents the award at its annual dinner each year.

The first to receive the award was Quincy actor Jack Klugman, owner of Jaklin Klugman, in 1981.^[3]

In 1985, John Henry, two-time American Horse of the Year, was the first horse selected by racing writers to receive the Mr. Fitz Award.^[4]

Source:^[2]

• 1981 – Jack Klugman, Owner-Breeder
• 1982 – Bill Shoemaker, Jockey; Woody Stephens, Trainer-Owner-Breeder
• 1983 – Fred W. Hooper, Owner-Breeder
• 1984 – Penny Chenery, Owner-Breeder
• 1985 – John Henry, Horse of the Year
• 1986 – Arlington Park Management
• 1987 – Laffit Pincay Jr., Jockey
• 1988 – Jack Van Berg, Trainer
• 1989 – Ogden Phipps, Owner-Breeder
• 1990 – Arthur B. Hancock III, Owner-Breeder
• 1991 – Frances Genter, Owner-Breeder
• 1992 – Ron McAnally, Trainer
• 1993 – Ángel Cordero Jr., Jockey
• 1994 – Jeff Lukas, Trainer
• 1995 – Jimmy Croll, Trainer
• 1996 – MacKenzie Miller, Trainer
• 1997 – Bob Baffert, Trainer
• 1998 – Joe Hirsch, Journalist
• 1999 – Robert B. Lewis and Beverly Lewis, Owners
• 2000 – Pat Day, Jockey
• 2001 – Allen Jerkens, Trainer
• 2002 – Chris McCarron, Jockey
• 2003 – Sackatoga Stable, Owner
• 2004 – Patricia Cooksey, Jockey
• 2005 – Nick Zito, Trainer
• 2006 – Team Barbaro
• 2007 – Calvin Borel, Jockey
• 2008 – Luke Kruytbosch, Track Announcer
• 2009 – Larry Jones, Trainer
• 2010 – Richard Migliore, Jockey
• 2011 – Terry Wallace, Track Announcer
• 2012 – Mario Gutierrez, Jockey; Ivan Puhich, Trainer
• 2013 – Ramon Domínguez, Jockey
• 2014 – Art Sherman, Trainer
• 2015 – Team American Pharoah
• 2016 – Russell Baze, Jockey
• 2017 – Rick Porter, Owner-Breeder
• 2018 – Mike Smith, Jockey
• 2019 – D. Wayne Lukas, Trainer
• 2020 – None
• 2021 – John Shear, Santa Anita Paddock Captain
• 2022 – Jim McIngvale, Owner, Philanthropist, Promoter
• 2023 – Team Cody's Wish
• 2024 – Team Kenny McPeek
• 2025 – Perry Ouzts, Jockey

• National Turf Writers Association