photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

No matter the statistical category, Bill Mott was regularly among the training leaders in 2013.

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

Few trainers closed out the year better than Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Of his nine Grade 1 victories last year, seven came over the second half of 2013.

photo by: Tom Keyser

Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds has become the most successful high-volume stable in the United States over the past several years and continued to send out winners at a host of racetracks in 2013.

photo by: Shigeki Kakkawa

Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs operation put together another strong year in 2013, battling Ken and Sarah Ramsey at the top of the North American breeders earnings list as the year drew to a close.

Finalists for the 2013 Eclipse Awards, selected by voters from Daily Racing Form, the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Click on a finalist to read DRF's profile. Winners will be announced Jan. 18 at the 43nd Annual Eclipse Awards dinner at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

photo by: Shigeki Kikkawa

Joyful Victory raced sparingly as a 5-year-old in 2013, yet the handful of starts ranked among the best of her career and made her a worthy Eclipse Award finalist as outstanding older female.

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

Will Take Charge was good in the spring, and very, very good in the fall, putting bookends on an ambitious 2013 campaign that has made him the favorite to be named champion 3-year-old male, despite a Triple Crown of discontent, when he was soundly beaten in all three legs.

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

After Palace Malice made his first start of the year, a second-place finish in an allowance sprint at Gulfstream Park, he was pointed to the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, a race that came on the heels of publication of the inaugural Daily Racing Form Derby Watch list for 2013.

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

There are times when horse racing can produce maddening, inexplicable results, waved away with a shrug and a common refrain, “That’s horse racing.”

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

The adage “a good horse can come from anywhere” has been confirmed again by Princess of Sylmar, named for a road on the border of Pennsylvania (Syl) and Maryland (Mar) and the farm where she was foaled.