The first stakes race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for newly-turned 3-year-olds takes place Jan. 1 when Oaklawn Park stages the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes.

Two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty will receive some time off after his spectacular victory in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) Dec. 10 at Sha Tin—the 10th group 1 victory of his career.

Trainer Linda Rice is setting personal records and approaching record numbers in New York this year.

Ushba Tesoro, the reigning Dubai World Cup (G1) champion, rebounded from a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to win the Dec. 29 Tokyo Daishoten (G1) and set up a return to the Middle East.

BH editorial director Frank Angst and New York correspondent Bob Ehalt discuss their Eclipse Award votes in the turf divisions.

Part three of BloodHorse’s 2023 year-end survey.

J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct.

J.T. Lundy was president during the most tumultuous period in Calumet Farm’s history.

Regaleira chased down Shin Emperor in the late going Dec. 28 at Nakayama Racecourse to become the first filly to win the Hopeful Stakes (G1).

Regardless of whether the Dec. 30 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) is run as scheduled on turf or moved to the Santa Anita Park main track due to rain, trainers Phil D’Amato and Paddy Gallagher seem well positioned.