photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

The best season of racing for veteran Tiz Miz Sue was her final season as a 6-year-old in 2013. Although her campaign lasted just four starts, from February through May, it also included her first Grade 1 win and the "fastest" race of her career – a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in her 32nd and final start.

photo by: Tom Keyser

At the midway point of the 2013 season, Sahara Sky was the undisputed leader of the nation's sprint division.

photo by: Benoit & Associates

One of the best stories of the 2013 racing season turned into one of the saddest in the blink of an eye on the morning of Oct. 26.

photo by: Nikki Sherman

If racing were limited to “down the hill” events at Santa Anita, a mare named Mizdirection might be as ingrained in American sports culture as Man o’ War or Secretariat.

photo by: Barbara D. Livingston

He’s the kid brother, the underdog, the scrappy terrier on a farm full of long-legged retrievers. He’s also an Eclipse Award finalist.

photo by: Tod Marks

Giant's Causeway. Mossflower. A $325,000 Saratoga price tag. A spot in Graham Motion’s barn. Gustavian was destined to be an Eclipse Award finalist. Just not in this category.

Laughing, a two-time Grade 1-winning mare in 2013, died early Tuesday due to complications from colic, according to her connections.

Laughing’s death came one day before she was announced as a finalist for the Eclipse Award as North America’s champion female turf horse. In 2013, Laughing won 4 of 5 starts, including the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park.