The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form
and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced Tuesday that W. Cothran
“Cot” Campbell, who revolutionized racehorse ownership and syndication through
his Dogwood Stable, will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for a
lifetime of outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing.
Campbell, 84, of Aiken, South Carolina, will receive the Eclipse Award of
Merit on Monday, January 16, at the 41st Annual Eclipse Awards, presented by
Daily Racing Form and the Breeders’ Cup. The Eclipse Awards will be held at
the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.
First purchasing horses in 1969, Campbell founded Dogwood Stable in 1973 and
introduced the concept of syndicated racehorse ownership, bringing hundreds of
new owners into the sport to experience the joy of Thoroughbred racing. Over
time, Dogwood set the standard followed by other racing stables which adopted
the partnership plan. The concept of group ownership of Thoroughbreds
appealed to Campbell because it allowed people the opportunity to participate in
the racing world at a reasonable cost. Campbell estimates that Dogwood has
brought in approximately 1,200 partners during the past 35 years.
In November of last year, Campbell announced that he was moving into
“semi-retirement,” continuing existing partner relationships, but not forming
new partnerships in 2012.
“This Award of Merit is a blockbuster for me,” Campbell said. “I am
surprised, delighted, and very appreciative that it comes my way. It is the
highlight of a career that has been exhilarating, to put it mildly.”
Since Mrs. Cornwallis became Campbell’s first stakes winner in 1971, she has
been followed by such Dogwood notables as Dominion, Domynsky, Nassipour,
Southjet, Wallenda, Trippi, Smok’n Frolic, Limehouse, Cotton Blossom and
Aikenite. Dogwood won its first Eclipse Award in 1987 with the Steeplechaser
Inlander. Dogwood raced 1990 Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall, and his
daughter Storm Song, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 1996 and
became the stable’s second Eclipse Award winner. Dogwood has raced 76 stakes
winners (including 14 grade 1 winners) and six million-dollar earners.
“Very few people are pioneers and trendsetters in their line of business. Cot
Campbell has been just that with the racing partnership concept — not only
introducing it, but doing it at the highest level and with class all the way,”
said Todd Pletcher, the five-time Eclipse Award winner as Outstanding Trainer,
who has trained stakes winners for Campbell since 1996.
In addition to his racing interests, Campbell has served the industry in a
variety of capacities. He was a founding member of the National Thoroughbred
Association, which laid the groundwork for the National Thoroughbred Racing
Association. In 2004, Campbell was the Honor Guest of the Thoroughbred Club of
America and that same year was called upon to chair the Thoroughbred
industry-sponsored Sales Integrity Task Force. He has been the recipient of the
John W. Galbreath Award for entrepreneurial excellence and leadership in the
horse industry. In 1993, Campbell established the Dogwood Dominion Award
honoring the “unsung heroes” of racing. It was named Dominion in honor of the
Dogwood-owned horse’s hard-working, blue-collar running style.
Prior to his move into Thoroughbred racing, Campbell, who was born in New
Orleans, was a successful advertising executive. He started his own agency,
Burton-Campbell Inc., in 1964 and helped grow it to become one of the largest
advertising agencies in the South. Campbell has written three books on racing:
“Lightning in a Jar,” “Rascals and Racehorses,” and “Memoirs of a Longshot.”
Campbell and his wife, Anne, have two daughters, Lila and Cary.