photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

After close finishes in two turf stakes in her native England, and a respectable fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies for trainer John Gosden, it was clear Questing had some ability as a 2-year-old in 2011.

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey John Velazquez won the Belmont Stakes in June, entered the National Racing Hall of Fame in August, and won the Breeders’ Cup Mile with Horse of the Year contender Wise Dan in November.

photo by: Tom Keyser

After three straight wins as a juvenile, capped by the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes, expectations were high when Believe You Can made her 3-year-old seasonal debut for trainer Larry Jones in the Silverbulletday Stakes.

photo by: Michael Amoruso

Ramon Dominguez is a finalist to win a third consecutive Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey after a 2012 season in which he set a record for purse earnings by a rider in a single year.

photo by: Benoit & Associates

His name may elicit varying degrees of emotions, but there is one fact that is virtually unanimous: Violence is scary good.

photo by: Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography

After winning the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos, owner John Oxley took 11 years to make it back to the world’s most famous horse race. Unfortunately, his 2012 starter, Prospective, could only manage an 18th-place finish in the run for the roses.

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

Javier Castellano has never experienced a better year in the saddle than the one he had in 2012. He won 325 races for mount earnings of $22,441,852 and is an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding jockey.

If Pierrot Lunaire does not win the 2012 Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser, his connections might want to lobby racing for the creation of a new honor. How about Comeback Player of the Year?