Well, 2026 is officially here, which means it’s finally time for me to publish my annual “best of” post, where I share my favorite photos from the year in chronological order. Click here to view previous “Best of” posts. If you follow me on social media, you’ve already seen a lot of these in recent days, as I’ve recapped my favorite photos taken throughout the year in posts and reels. In this post, though, I’ll go into a little more background on each photo, and why I chose it. And, yes, there are 50 photos in this post, because when you take more than 90,000 photos in a single year, narrowing down your favorites can be a difficult process. I always wait until January 1 to post this, just in case I take a photo I really like on New Year’s Eve (which happened again this year). Some fun facts before we begin: Over half (26) of the photos were taken at Saratoga Race Course or the Oklahoma Training Track. This makes sense, considering the sheer volume of photos I took there alone this year (over 70,000, but who’s counting?). Only five of the photos have nothing to do with horse racing, and only three photos were taken outside New York or Kentucky (all taken on Cape Cod). The month with the greatest number of photos was August, with 10. September had the least, with zero.
“Messier Rears Up,” Rockridge Stud, Hudson, NY – January 25
I attended the Rockridge Stud stallion show in January. I was so pleased that they showed the stallions outdoors, as it made for a beautiful setting for photos. The stallions were pretty well behaved, but I caught Messier being a little frisky while he was being shown. Messier, a Kentucky Derby alum, began his stud career this past year, standing for a fee of $5,000.
“Explosive Package Enjoys the Snow,” Irish Hill Century Farm, Stillwater, NY – January 29
There’s not much more appealing to me for a photo than a horse running in the snow. This mare had lots of energy, as did her colt, out of frame.
“Yearling Fillies in the Snow,” Irish Hill Century Farm, Stillwater, NY – January 29
The fillies were active the day I photographed them and the snow made a beautiful contrast to their chestnut and bay coats.
“Snowfall at Mayo Beach,” Wellfleet, MA – February 15
It’s neat to see a beach covered in snow. The various temperatures of the artificial lights created a uniquely colored sky.
“Northern Lights Over Saratoga Lake,” Route 9P Bridge, Saratoga Springs, NY – March 21
After seeing the aurora twice in 2024, I saw it again twice in 2025. In March, I took to the Route 9P bridge over Saratoga Lake to catch the glow. Pictured at right is Lago by Druthers, which is an excellent restaurant.
“Chilly Chocolate and Her Corniche Colt Go For a Run,” Denali Stud, Paris, KY – April 15
This was my second year staying at Denali Stud, and the experience did not disappoint. I particularly enjoyed watching this pair get their exercise in.
“Silver Charm in Black and White,” Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, Georgetown, KY – April 16
At age 31 (32 officially), Old Friends resident Silver Charm is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner, having taken the 1997 edition of the Run for the Roses. He is also the last surviving Derby winner of the 20th century and the oldest living winner of any Triple Crown race (according to Wikipedia). He is joined at Dream Chase Farm by two other Derby winners, Big Brown (2008) and I’ll Have Another (2013). All three of them also won the Preakness.
“Meeting Rachel Alexandra the Great,” Stonestreet Farm, Lexington, KY – April 16
Meeting Rachel Alexandra at Stonestreet Farm was one of the highlights of my year. Just my luck when I was there she was just about to get turned out with her friends, and we all got a chance to meet and take pictures with her.
“Sunset at Denali Stud,” Denali Stud, Paris, KY – April 16
I witnessed a stunning sunset on my last night at Denali Stud. This is from right outside the cabin where we stayed.
“Daryl and Ron Look at Their Boy Like Now,” – Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – April 26
Daryl and Ron Thompson are loving parents to Preakness alum Like Now, who resides at Old Friends at Cabin Creek. At our annual birthday party for the boys this year, the couple sat ready to introduce visitors to their pal.
“King Congie Loves to Run,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – April 26
If you visit Old Friends at Cabin Creek, odds are you will see King Congie sowing his oats. It’s always a pleasure to watch, and on this day, I got a pretty nice shot of it.
“Commentator Looks Out the Barn Window,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – May 17
Commentator was on stall rest for awhile after contracting Potomac Horse Fever. Volunteers and visitors came to see him at the barn. Sadly, Tator crossed over the rainbow bridge on June 27, but not before making a mark on the hearts of many who watched him race and cared for him in his retirement.
“A Quiet Moment Between C’Est La Vie and Her Epicenter Filly,” Mahoney Eden Manor, Saratoga Springs, NY – May 23
I love watching the mares and foals interact during the winter and spring. Mahoney Eden Manor, owned by my friends Britt Wadsworth and Sean Mahoney, is one of the breeding farms in New York that I frequent.
“Hennyville’s Legacy,” Mahoney Eden Manor, Saratoga Springs, NY – May 23
Sean Mahoney hugs Hennyville’s final foal, Roxanne (a Warrior’s Charge filly). Sadly, the beloved mare passed away earlier this year.
“Pets for Journalism” Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – May 24
Preakness winner Journalism gets pets from his regular exercise rider Mark Witkowski after galloping over Saratoga’s main track in preparation for the Belmont Stakes, where he would finish second.
“John Shirreffs Looks at Baeza,” Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – June 1
Trainer John Shirreffs looks at eventual grade 1 winner Baeza after morning training over the Oklahoma Track in preparation for the Belmont Stakes, where he would finish third.
“Coach Case Breaks His Maiden,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – June 4
There were few dry eyes in sight after three-year-old gelding Coach Case broke his maiden during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, giving trainer Miguel Clément his first win following the passing of his father Christophe. The younger Clément would follow that up with two grade 1s and 12 other graded stakes victories, with a total of 61 wins in 2025.
“Frankie Dettori’s Flying Dismount,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – June 6
I was lucky enough to witness two of jockey Frankie Dettori’s famous flying dismounts during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival this year. I like this shot better, which I took after he won an optional claiming event on Storm Miami, because it was pouring rain, and rain always makes for a compelling photo.
“La Cara Wins the Grade I Acorn Stakes,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – June 6
Jockey Dylan Davis posted two grade 1 wins in a single day on June 6, with his Acorn victory aboard La Cara being the first. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse came out onto the track to shake hands with him after the three-year-old filly posted her second top level victory.
“Junior Alvarado and Sovereignty win the Belmont Stakes,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – June 7
Sovereignty’s win in the Belmont topped an exciting weekend of racing at the Spa. It became a little overcast before the field broke from the gate, and the lights at the wire lit up Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado nicely as he pumped his fist in celebration.
“Junior Throws the Flowers,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – June 7
It’s hard to resist a good flower-throwing photo. I love the expression on Junior’s face as he enters the winner’s circle aboard Sovereignty after taking the Belmont Stakes.
“A Three Way Photo Finish,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – July 12
I don’t often shoot from this location, but when I do, there seem to be a lot of close finishes. The three in focus horses in this photo have all won at Saratoga. Concrete Glory (right), the winner of this race, recently captured the Claiming Crown Ready’s Rocket Express at Churchill Downs. Little Ni (center) followed up his second place finish in this race with a win in another optional claiming event later in the meet. Scotland (left) won the Curlin Stakes at the Spa in 2023, and also won an optional claiming in 2024.
“Bedded Down,” Oklahoma Annex, Saratoga Springs, NY – July 16
Taking these photos of reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna with Kenny McPeek’s assistant trainer Francisco Serrano was another highlight of the year. I always consider it an immense privilege to get up close and personal with the horses and the people who care for them at the track. I also love capturing humans and horses together. I wish more people who didn’t follow racing understood how much these horses are loved and adored.
“The Field Heads for the Turn in the Grade II Honorable Miss Stakes,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – July 20
This is another location that I don’t often shoot from, but it yields unique head-on views of the field heading for the turn. The larger the field, the more compelling the shot tends to be. Winner Halina’s Forte can be seen at far right. Two to the left of her (pink cap) is Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Scylla, who finished third in the Honorable Miss.
“Katie Davis Wins the Charity Match Race,” Saratoga Harness, Saratoga Springs, NY – July 26
Jockey Katie Davis got a high five from her dad, jockey-turned-trainer Robbie Davis, after she won the RUS charity match race at the harness track.
“Diversify Checks Out His New Digs,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – July 28
The loss of our beloved Commentator in June was a tough one. In July, we welcomed Diversify to the herd, and if there was ever a horse to proudly carry on Commentator’s legacy, he would be it. Diversify, like Commentator, is a New York-bred. Like Commentator, he won the Whitney (Commentator actually won it twice). In fact, there are, to my knowledge (please correct me if I’m wrong), only three New York-breds to ever win the Whitney: the two of them and Fio Rito. Finally, Diversify won the Commentator Stakes. Diversify settled right in at Cabin Creek and has thoroughly enjoyed meeting visitors.
“Dan and His Pal Watchem Smokey,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – July 28
Old Friends at Cabin Creek volunteer Dan has a special bond with Watchem Smokey, the oldest Thoroughbred on the farm. Dan regularly mucks Smokey’s paddock and enjoys spending time with this longtime resident of the farm.
“Make That Two Grade 1s for Deterministic,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 2
Jockey Kendrick Carmouche reminds photographers how many grade 1 races he and Deterministic have teamed up to win after taking the Grade I Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga. The pair previously captured the Grade I Manhattan Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
“Sierra Leone Wins the Whitney,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 2
Sierra Leone is a deep closer, so if you get a photo of him winning a race, odds are you are going to see him and his rider covered in dirt. Somehow I just love that. I love the gallop out photos because you can see the quarter pole and the crowd and the famous awnings in the background.
“Britt Gives Love to Reign It In, Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 17
Britt Wadsworth, who co-bred Reign It In, the gelding I own a piece of, gives some affection to the two-year-old by King For A Day at the barn of David Duggan at the Oklahoma Track last summer. Reign It In, whom I first met when he was a foal, raced three times in 2025, finishing third at Finger Lakes in his most recent start.
Emma Gives Belgian a Hug, Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 22
I asked Emma Nordin, an exercise rider for trainer George Weaver, to pose with a horse. She picked Belgian, a two-year-old Beau Liam colt who graduated at first asking last summer at Saratoga.
“Thorpedo Anna Draws a Crowd,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 23
Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna drew quite a crowd in the paddock before her victory in the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes. Among those pictured photographing her is esteemed sports photographer Neil Leifer (far left).
“Dorth Vader and Thorpedo Anna Down to the Wire,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 23
The Personal Ensign was one of the most thrilling and dramatic races of the summer at Saratoga, with Thorpedo Anna (inside) defeating grade 1 winner Dorth Vader by a nose at the wire. After a narrow defeat to Fierceness in the Travers last year, The Grizzly, as she is known to her many fans, ended her Saratoga career on a high note. The Kenny McPeek trainee was retired in the fall following a fourth place finish in the Grade I Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.
“Erma Feeds Sovereignty a Carrot After the Travers,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 23
Erma Scott, a fixture of the Bill Mott barn and of the backside in general, loves Sovereignty. In this photo, she gives the Travers winner a carrot following his return to the barn after his big win.
“Jaime Gives Bellezza a Kiss,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 30
Jaime Rodríguez secured his second graded stakes victory when he won the Grade II Flower Bowl Stakes aboard Miguel Clément trainee Bellezza this summer. When he returned to the front side, he took a moment to show his love for the filly.
“Irad Ortiz Takes a Spill,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 31
This was a scary incident that luckily did not result in any serious damage. Following a chain reaction near the start of the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. was unseated from his mount, Mindframe. The former suffered some bruising but was back on his mounts within a few days and the latter was collared near the top of the stretch and suffered no injuries.
“A Riderless Mindframe,” Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY – August 30
Following the incident in the above photo, Mindframe managed to run nearly three quarters of the race riderless before being collared.
“Sovereignty Grazes in the Sun,” – Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – October 11
What a privilege it was to watch Sovereignty train and race at Saratoga from spring through fall. On this day, he was backlit so beautifully and cast a shadow on the ground.
“Raúl Gives Dorth Vader a Hug,” Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – October 11
Raúl Alejandro is the regular exercise rider for grade 1 winner Dorth Vader. He is always happy to pose for a photo atop whichever George Weaver trainee he is riding, showing love and affection for each one.
“Weanling Trio,” Thirty Year Farm, Saratoga Springs, NY – October 16
Horses are animals, which means they are somewhat unpredictable. Anytime I go to photograph horses, I have to hope for some luck that they will do something interesting or pose nicely. On this day, this trio of weanlings all stood next to each other and just stared at me, making for a perfect photo. The fact that they were backlit by the afternoon sun didn’t hurt either.
“Sovereignty Jogs Out For His Last Saratoga Breeze of 2025,” Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – October 19
A crowd gathered to watch Sovereignty put in his final work before shipping out to California for the Breeders’ Cup, from which he was unfortunately scratched. The fall foliage made for a beautiful backdrop.
“Northern Lights Strike Again,” Saratoga Springs, NY – November 11
I saw Northern Lights a second time this year in November when they made an appearance. I just pointed my camera up at the sky for this shot.
“A Fox in Provincetown,” Race Point Beach, Provincetown, MA – November 28
While visiting Cape Cod over Thanksgiving, I saw a beautiful red fox. I’ve always thought foxes are very photogenic creatures.
“Constance and Big Mar Play in the Snow,” Thirty Year Farm, Saratoga Springs, NY – December2
I enjoyed a beautiful snow day in Saratoga on December 2. I especially liked watching these two fillies run and play in the snow at Thirty Year Farm.
“Red and Bo in the Snow,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – December 13
On December 13, a beautiful snowfall came down on Cabin Creek shortly after I arrived at the farm. I loved walking around and seeing the boys covered in a light dusting. Red Down South (left) and Bold Illusion can often be found in close proximity of each other.
“Diversify’s First Winter at Cabin Creek,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – December 13
The snow was really starting to come down as I took this photo of Diversify. It was very convenient that he stood right by his paddock sign.
“Heavy Snow at Cabin Creek,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – December 13
This is another photo from that beautiful snowy day.
“King Congie Runs in the Snow,” Old Friends at Cabin Creek, Greenfield, NY – December 13
Just one more photo from that day. It’s always a pleasure to watch Congie run, and seeing him do it in the snow is all the more special.
“Snow at the Spa,” Oklahoma Training Track, Oklahoma Training Track, Saratoga Springs, NY – December 26
As the snow was falling, I knew I had to take a peek at the track. I had just been the night before, but it hadn’t been snowing and I just love a good snowfall photo. Pictured at left is Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey’s barn. Just past that is a barn shared by Miguel Clément and Hall of Famer Bill Mott.
“The Last Sunset of 2025,” Indian Neck Beach, Wellfleet, MA – December 31
Once again, I have selected a photo I took on New Year’s Eve. It was pretty cloudy, but the sunlight peeking through the clouds on the horizon gave off a pretty pink hue.
If all that wasn’t enough (and if it is, that’s totally understandable!), I also made a video comprised of nearly 700 still frames and videos that I shot throughout the year. Click here to watch it.
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2026!
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos and videos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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Amazing!!