11 Compelling Questions for Horse Racing in 2015

How long will the Wise Dan ride last? 2014 was another successful year for the future Hall of Famer, but it was also a year which showed that Wise Dan has the same fragilities that any horse does. He’s already come back successfully from Colic surgery, but at eight-years-old, you have to wonder if the 2015 Wise Dan, who will be returning from a cannon bone fracture, can possibly be the same monster that we’ve enjoyed the last several years. Judiciously campaigned over his career, I would not put another great year past him … at least I hope so.

Will racing ever commit to a true commissioner? It’s been tried before, but until racing in the United States can come together and create a governing body, or individual, to make the tough decisions protecting the honesty and integrity of the sport at every single track in the nation, the sport will continue to shoot itself in the foot.

How many horses will Todd Pletcher have in this year’s Kentucky Derby? Todd Pletcher has already won the Kentucky Derby, which would be a career highlight for most, but when you run 40 horses in 15 years, and win only a single time, you have to wonder if one is enough. He entered 4 in 2000, 5 in 2007, 4 in 2010, 5 in 2013, and 4 last year. How many will he have in 2015? Only Pletcher knows, but look for him to have three dozen or more nominees this year, led by Carpe Diem and Blofeld. He had a whopping 41 nominated in 2014.

Will Dubai dirt lead to American riches? In the first 14 editions of the world’s richest race, American horses won 8 times, including the inaugural running won convincingly by Cigar. Of course back then, it was a dirt race. In the last five runnings, run on a synthetic surface, we’ve only won once, saved by the versatile Animal Kingdom. In 2015, the big race will be back on dirt, and the connections of top U.S. horses are already licking their chops thinking about the prospect of a $10 million dirt race.

Who will prove best of the 2014 three-year-olds? I don’t know about you, but the Breeders’ Cup Classic left me largely unfulfilled. Is the race winner, Bayern, the best of the crop? I have my doubts. California Chrome, Shared Belief, and Toast of New York all could make a claim after the race, and don’t forget Tonalist, who traveled cross country to be way too far back on a speed favoring track, before closing stoutly down the stretch. The good news is, all five are planning a 2015 campaign to provide more answers about who is really the best.

How good will the older male division be in 2015? If you like the five soon to be older horses mentioned in the question above, let’s add returning horses like Wicked Strong, Danza, Hoppertunity, and Commissioner to the list just for fun. As good as next year’s four-year-olds may be, though, they better beware of the Belmont and Met Mile winner, Palace Malice. He’s never before had the opportunity to run against a horse younger than him, but in 2015, he will be looking to show the younger crowd a thing or two.

Will it be another successful comeback for Gary Stevens? To anyone who doubted the successful return of Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, at the age of 49 less than two years ago, boy were you wrong. Stevens was great, and he added an Oxbow win in the Preakness, and a Mucho Macho Man victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to his impressive list of accomplishments. Still plagued by painful knees, Stevens has begun another comeback at 51. Anyone willing to bet against him again?

Will California Chrome run in the Arlington Million? California Chrome is arguably the most famous horse in America, and he’s a Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. Will we really see a horse this well known visit Chicago to run on turf in the Million? It’s been a long time since the most recognizable horses in the country ran in Chicago, but it used to be commonplace. We may go a long way to answering this question with the result of his turf debut in the upcoming Hollywood Derby.

How long will it take for Rosie to unretire? What a way to go out. At the top of her game, Rosie Napravnik announced her retirement in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner’s circle. It was a fairytale ending to a historic career. I wish her well as she embarks on motherhood, but at 26, I wonder how long it will take before we see the talented, two-time Kentucky Oaks winner back in the saddle again.

Will Keeneland burst at the seams come Breeders’ Cup? The last seven Breeders’ Cups have been held at either Santa Anita or Churchill Downs. I am a big proponent of moving the Cup around, and I have no doubt that Lexington, Kentucky will be a wonderful and enthusiastic host of the World Championships, but two Keenelands could fit into either Santa Anita or Churchill Downs. In the end, I’m sure Keeneland will do a great job, and the Cup there will be a success, even if we do feel a little like a sardine in a can.

Will there ever be another Triple Crown winner? I still remember Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed, but it truly was a lifetime ago. Winning the Triple Crown has become racing’s holy grail, and after this long, you have to wonder if it will ever happen again. The answer is yes. Maybe not in 2015, maybe not 2016, but it will happen again. Then again, I still remember how sure I was Spectacular Bid would do it the very next year after Affirmed.