National Museum of Racing Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eleven new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
In the Contemporary Category, racehorse Kona Gold and the late trainers Christophe Clement and John A. Shirreffs earned the requisite votes from the nationwide voting panel for election. In the Historic Review Category, racehorses Gulch and Mongo and the late trainer David A. Whiteley were chosen by a committee vote. In the Pillars of the Turf Category, the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, Dr. Robert Copelan, Seth W. Hancock, G. Watts Humphrey, Jr., and the late Joseph E. Widener received the necessary support from the selection committee.
Kona Gold, Clement, and Shirreffs were chosen on the majority of ballots submitted (50 percent plus one vote is required for election). A total of 143 voters (92.8 percent) participated from the 154 eligible to cast ballots. In the Historic Review and Pillars of the Turf categories, 75 percent approval from the respective committees is required for election.
The 2026 Hall of Fame Class will be enshrined at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, at Fasig-Tipton’s Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The event will be aired live on the Museum website at racingmuseum.org. It is open to the public and free to attend. Broadcaster Charlsie Cantey will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Christophe Clement (1965-2025) won 2,576 races with purse earnings of $184,127,449 (12th all time) in a career that spanned from 1991 through 2025. He trained three-time Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti, winner of four straight Grade 1s on the turf in 2009, as well as 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist, who also won consecutive runnings of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in 2014 and 2015. Clement won 286 graded stakes.
John A. Shirreffs (1945-2026) trained the winners of 596 races, including 113 graded events, with purse earnings of $58,581,916. Although he had a few starters as early as 1978, Shirreffs did not train full time until 1994. He won the Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2005 with 50-1 longshot Giacomo and later became the conditioner of one of racing’s all-time greats, Hall of Fame member Zenyatta. Shirreffs trained the four-time Eclipse Award winner to 19 consecutive victories, including 13 Grade 1s, from 2007 through 2010.