National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Overhauls Voting Process

Changes include reducing the number of voters and limiting the number of times retired candidates can appear on the ballot.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is making significant changes to its nominating and election process ahead of the 2026 induction cycle. The organization is reducing its voting panel from 172 members to 154, dropping over two dozen voters to ensure the group is "deeply connected to the sport, knowledgeable, passionate and responsive." Additionally, retired horse, jockey and trainer candidates will now have a maximum of 10 appearances on the Hall of Fame ballot, down from an unlimited number previously. Voting will also be conducted electronically through an independent auditor, rather than by mail.

Why it matters

The changes to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame's voting process aim to improve the integrity and credibility of the induction process, ensuring that only the most deserving candidates are selected. This comes after criticism of the voting process for other major sports halls of fame, like the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The details

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is making several key changes to its nominating and election process. The organization is reducing its voting panel from 172 members to 154, dropping over two dozen voters in an effort to create a more knowledgeable and engaged group. Retired horse, jockey and trainer candidates will now have a maximum of 10 appearances on the Hall of Fame ballot, down from an unlimited number previously. Voting will also be conducted electronically through an independent auditor, rather than by mail.

  • The changes will be implemented ahead of the 2026 induction cycle.

The players

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

The organization that oversees the induction of horses, jockeys and trainers into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

D.G. Van Clief

The chair of the Hall of Fame's nominating committee, who stated the goal is to "ensure this process is always defined by absolute integrity and that it yields the most deserving class of Hall of Fame inductees each year."

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What they’re saying

“Our goals are to ensure this process is always defined by absolute integrity and that it yields the most deserving class of Hall of Fame inductees each year.”

— D.G. Van Clief, Nominating Committee Chair (mymotherlode.com)

What’s next

The changes to the voting process will be implemented for the 2026 induction cycle of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

The takeaway

The overhaul of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame's voting process aims to improve the integrity and credibility of the induction process, ensuring that only the most deserving candidates are selected. This comes amid broader scrutiny of voting processes for major sports halls of fame.