Winners in all categories will be announced at the 34rd annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, to be held Monday, Jan. 24, 2004 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. Tbe three finalists for Horse of the Year will be announced during the Eclipse Awards ceremony, where NTRA Commissioner D.G. Van Clief, Jr. will present the Horse of the Year trophy to the winning connections. For the first time, the Eclipse Awards will be televised live by TVG, with coverage beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Below are the finalists in alphabetical order with a link to a profile and photo for each equine finalist and to a bio for each of the human finalists where available.
Two-Year-Old Male: Afleet Alex, Declan's Moon, Wilko
Two-Year-Old Female: Balletto, Runway Model, Sweet Catomine
Three-Year-Old Male: Birdstone, Kitten's Joy, Smarty Jones
Three-Year-Old Female: Ashado, Ouija Board, Stellar Jayne
Older Male: Ghostzapper, Pleasantly Perfect, Roses in May
Older Female: Azeri, Sightseek, Storm Flag Flying
Sprinter: Ghostzapper, Pico Central, Speightstown
Male Turf Horse: Better Talk Now, Kitten's Joy, Singletary
Female Turf Horse: Intercontinental, Ouija Board, Ticker Tape
Steeplechase: Hirapour, McDynamo, Preemtive Strike
Owner: Michael Gill, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, Stronach Stables
Breeder: Adena Springs/Stronach Entities, John Franks, Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Robert Frankel, Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano, Edgar Prado, John Velazquez
Apprentice Jockey: Pablo Fragoso, Brian Hernandez Jr., Angel Quinones
