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.

Wise Dan, who last year became the first horse since John Henry in 1981 to win three Eclipse Awards in the same year, has a chance to do the same thing again this year, having been named a finalist for Horse of the Year, champion older horse, and champion male turf horse – the three categories he won a year ago – when the finalists in all Eclipse Award divisions for 2013 were announced Wednesday.

Due to the continued low temperatures in West Virginia, Charles Town Races canceled its live racing program scheduled for Wednesday night, Live racing is scheduled to resume Thursday.

First post moves to 7 p.m.

Charles Town’s live racing programs will begin 15 minutes earlier than usual, starting next week.

Effective with the Tuesday, Jan. 14 card, first post time will be 7 p.m. Eastern. Post time for the ninth and final race will become 10:30 p.m.

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.