Acclamation repeats as California-bred Horse of the Year

Acclamation previously had been announced as the winner of two divisional awards for 2012, for older male and turf horse. He won both his starts last year, the Whittingham at Hollywood Park and the Eddie Read at Del Mar, before being sent to stud at his birthplace, the Old English Rancho of co-owners Bud and Judy Johnston.

“I hope he’s an exciting sire,” Bud Johnston said. “He deserves to continue on the Unusual Heat legacy.”

Unusual Heat, the sire of Acclamation, was honored as the leading sire of California-conceived foals by earnings and by turf earnings.

“Every night when I go to sleep, a lot of people are in my prayers – and one horse,” said Barry Abrams, who trained Unusual Heat and is part of the syndicate that owns the stallion, along with Madeline Auerbach.

Acclamation was the Cal-bred Horse of the Year in 2011, too, the year he also won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s champion older male.