Mucho Macho Man photo above courtesy of Benoit & Associates, all others courtesy of Horsephotos.com.

Led by Horse of the Year candidates Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge and Wise Dan, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced the finalists for the 2013 Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred racing. Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced at the 43rd annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony, presented by Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup and The Stronach Group on Saturday evening, January 18 at the Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Of the 272 eligible voters representing the NTRA, the NTWAB and Daily Racing Form, 249 (91.5%) took part in this year’s voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters’ top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first place votes.

The 2013 Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

Horse of the Year:   Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge, Wise Dan

WISE DAN

Wise Dan 3

Two-Year-Old Male:   Havana, New Year’s Day, Shared Belief

Two-Year-Old Filly:   Chriselliam (IRE), Ria Antonia, She’s a Tiger

Three-Year-Old Male:   Orb, Palace Malice, Will Take Charge

WILL TAKE CHARGE

Will Take Charge 2

Three-Year-Old Filly:   Beholder, Close Hatches, Princess of Sylmar

Older Male:   Game On Dude, Mucho Macho Man, Wise Dan

MUCHO MACHO MAN

Mucho Macho Man

Older Female:   Joyful Victory, Royal Delta, Tiz Miz Sue

ROYAL DELTA

Royal Delta 2

Male Sprinter:   Points Offthebench, Sahara Sky, Secret Circle

Female Sprinter:   Dance to Bristol, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection                     

Male Turf Horse:   Magician (IRE), Point of Entry, Wise Dan

Female Turf Horse:   Dank (GB), Laughing (IRE), Mizdirection

Steeplechase Horse:   Divine Fortune, Gustavian, Italian Wedding

Owner:   Juddmonte Farms, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey

Breeder:   Adena Springs, Morton Fink, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey

Trainer:   Bob Baffert, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher

TODD PLETCHER (center)

Todd Pletcher 2

Jockey:   Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, Gary Stevens

GARY STEVENS

Gary Stevens

Apprentice Jockey:   Victor Carrasco, Manuel Franco, Edgard Zayas

In addition to honoring the 17 winners in the horse and human categories, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will receive the Eclipse Award of Merit and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be recognized with an Eclipse Special Award. Jim Benes will receive an Eclipse Award as the Handicapper of the Year. Members of the media will be honored for outstanding coverage in six categories.

The Eclipse Awards, which will be televised live on HRTV, are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies. The Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. Those awards are voted by NTRA, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB). Eclipse Awards also are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing.

Tickets to the Eclipse Awards are available for $400 each. Order forms for tickets and the Eclipse Awards weeklong schedule of events are available at http://bit.ly/18TJ0Tx. Hotel reservations at the Westin Diplomat can be made at http://bit.ly/1kVxdac. Hotel reservations at the Trump International can be made at http://bit.ly/1h8WgXe. For additional information, please contact Michele Ravencraft of the NTRA at 859-422-2657 or  mravencraft@ntra.com.