Wed, 01/08/2014 - 00:00

2013 Eclipse Awards: She's a Tiger

photo by: Justin N. Lane

She’s a Tiger holds the dubious distinction of being only the second horse ever to have her number taken down from first in a Breeders’ Cup race.

Wed, 01/08/2014 - 00:00

2013 Eclipse Awards: Ria Antonia

photo by: Tom Keyser

If sheer confidence by itself could somehow directly influence the numbers on the odds board, then Ria Antonia would have been a rather short 3-2 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies instead of a big longshot.

Sat, 01/26/2013 - 01:55

Pedigree profiles: 2012 Eclipse Award winners

Tom Keyser
Wise Dan, ridden by John Velazquez, wins the Mile in 1:31.78, the fastest time in Santa Anita and Breeders' Cup history.

Wise Dan was named 2012's Horse of the Year at the 42nd annual Eclipse Awards on Saturday night at Gulfstream Park after earning titles as champion older male and champion turf male earlier in the evening. 

The Wiseman's Ferry gelding, who races for breeder Morton Fink, is the first homebred to be named Horse of the Year since Ghostzapper in 2004. 

In-depth pedigree profiles of the 2012 Eclipse Award champions: 

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 22:02

Wise Dan named Horse of the Year, wins turf male, older male titles at Eclipse Awards

Tom Keyser
Wise Dan won titles as Horse of the Year, champion male turf horse, and champion older male on Saturday at the Eclipse Awards.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Wise Dan became the first horse since John Henry in 1981 to win three Eclipse Awards in the same year, including Horse of the Year, at the 42nd annual Eclipse Awards on Saturday night at Gulfstream Park.

He was announced as Horse of the Year at the end of the evening after having earlier won divisional titles as both champion male turf horse and champion older male. His three awards are the exact same three that went to John Henry in 1981.

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 21:45

Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta: Champion is hard to flaw—on the track and on pedigree

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Empire Maker, with Jerry Bailey up, wins the 2003 Belmont Stakes.

If money truly talks, what could it tell us about Royal Delta, a $3.7 million earner and $8.5 million auction purchase? It would probably say that she is the best racemare of her generation and the second-hottest broodmare prospect in the history of Thoroughbred breeding (behind only $9-million dual champion Ashado). But we knew that anyway.

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 21:43

Eclipse Award winner I’ll Have Another: Classic winner bolsters sire Flower Alley’s stock

courtesy Three Chimneys FarmFlower Alley

I’ll Have Another’s rapid rise to national prominence last spring elevated the profile of his young sire, 2005 Travers Stakes winner Flower Alley, just as Three Chimneys Farm was dealing with the loss of their signature stallion Dynaformer, who passed away several days before the Kentucky Derby.

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 21:41

Eclipse Award winner Questing: Champion filly a blend of English and American influences

Hard Spun conformation photocourtesy DarleyHard Spun

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 21:32

Eclipse Award winner Groupie Doll: Standout sprinter arises from modest beginnings

Bowman's Band conformationcourtesy Lane's EndBowman's Band

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 21:25

Eclipse Award winner Trinniberg: Breeders’ Cup victor carries sire and dam’s speed to championship

courtesy of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Louise Reinagel photoTeuflesberg

Trinniberg, the successful result of a speed-on-speed mating, got his young sire Teuflesberg off to a good start and transformed his dam from an obscurely bred runner to a $460,000 broodmare.

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 21:01

Eclipse Award winner Wise Dan: Morton Fink’s insight reaps championship dividends

Wiseman's Ferry conformationcourtesy Dana Point FarmWiseman's Ferry