If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound? If a world record falls and no one notices, does it matter?

From 1923 (when Kentucky Derby winner Zev’s victory in the great international match race with Epsom Derby winner Papyrus propelled his earnings past those of 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass) to 1990 (when Japan’s Oguri Cap sneaked past Alysheba to become the world’s leading money earner), Americans became accustomed to the idea that an American horse would naturally be the world’s leading money earner on the racetrack.

DRF Breeding staff writer Joe Nevills makes his selections for the 2013 Eclipse Awards in the form of haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven and five.

2-year-old male
A final feather
For the late Hollywood’s cap
Shared Belief gets it

2-year-old female
They can take her race
But they can’t take her title
She’s a Tiger wins

3-year-old male
Late-season flurry
Seals the deal for Will Take Charge
No one else stepped up

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement organization based out of Georgetown, Ky., is planning an expansion to its Kentucky property in order to take in more horses.

New Year’s Day, winner of the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will stand his initial season at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, Ky., for an advertised fee of $12,500.

The 3-year-old son of Street Cry was retired on Dec. 26 after a non-displaced chip was discovered on his left hind sesamoid. He finished his career with two wins in three starts for earnings of $1,154,000. The colt was campaigned by Gary and Mary West and trained by Bob Baffert.

Leslie Brownell Combs II, former president of prominent central Kentucky stud farm Spendthrift Farm, died on Sunday in Lexington, Ky. He was 80.

Combs was the son of Leslie Combs II, who founded Spendthrift Farm in 1937 and grew the business into one of the 20th century’s leading breeding and sales operations.

Lere Visagie’s Rockridge Stud in Hudson, N.Y., will host a stallion show on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern. A full lunch buffet will be served, and each attendee will be eligible to win a free season to one of the farm’s 2014 stallions. One free season to each stallion will be awarded.

Rockridge’s roster for 2014 consists of 2013 New York leading general sire Bluegrass Cat, D’Funnybone, Giant Surprise, Pomeroy, Posse, recently retired San Pablo, Soaring Empire, and champion Trinniberg.

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., will conduct its annual stallion season auction starting at 12 p.m. Eastern on Friday, Jan. 10, and ending at 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13.

The auction supports NYTB and its political action committee in promoting the welfare of New York’s Thoroughbred industry and in advocating for the state’s breeders in debates impacting breeding and racing.

The U.S. stallion market has experienced major shifts in the past five years.

Leading racetrack and commercial sire Storm Cat was pensioned in 2008, followed by fellow breed-shaping sire A.P. Indy in 2011. Influential sire El Prado died in the fall of 2009, perennial leader Pulpit passed in late 2012, and the bloodstock market lost standout commercial sire Unbridled’s Song this past July.

Silver Train, winner of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, died suddenly on Dec. 29 after suffering a bout of colic while shuttling back to the U.S. from Brazil.

The 11-year-old son of Old Trieste had recently completed his second Southern Hemisphere season at Siquiera & Mercadante in Parana, Brazil, and was returning to Northview PA in Peach Bottom, Pa. Owned by HnR Horseracing LLC, Silver Train was to stand the 2014 season at Northview for $5,000.

Will Take Charge, a two-time Grade 1 winner and the leading contender for a 2013 Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male, will stand at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., upon the conclusion of his racing career.