These are the top 10 racing stories of 2022

We probably can all agree on a few of the top stories in Thoroughbred racing in 2022.

Flightline, for example. Rich Strike’s shocking win in the Kentucky Derby.

After that, it starts to get more subjective, and the ranking order gets more difficult. Differences of opinion will be made loud and clear in the comments, to be sure.

Our list of the 10 top stories is drawn from looking at which stories drew the most interest this year, coupled with a discussion among editors.

1. Flightline. Maybe the story of the century, some would say. But definitely the story of the year. The Tapit colt won all six of his starts by a total of 71 lengths. Especially unforgettable were his 19 1/4-length win in the Pacific Classic and the way he dispatched the game Life Is Good in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to win by 8 1/4 lengths, the largest margin ever in that race. Some might think Flightline is not worthy of consideration as an all-time great. Yes, he raced only six times, and we would have liked to see him come back for more. But he wrapped up the story of the year along with his certain horse of the year award.

2. Rich Strike’s shocking Kentucky Derby win. Another story you know well. The unsung son of Keen Ice with only one win got into the Kentucky Derby field because of a late scratch and came out of nowhere to surprise Epicenter and Zandon to win at 80-1. The former claimer gave his jockey, owner and trainer their first Derby win and was the second-highest-priced winner in the race. Think what you want about his performance afterward, but Rich Strike’s Derby is a close second on this list.

3. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Things got serious with HISA in 2022. Lisa Lazarus was named CEO in January, and its safety and anti-doping programs went into effect July 1. But challenges came from many fronts, and in November, a federal court ruled that the authority is unconstitutional because it delegates unsupervised government power to a private entity, and another challenge is pending in a different federal court. The federal spending bill had a one-sentence fix, but two senators filed an amendment to strike it. Stay tuned.

4. Cody’s Wish. He was 4-for-5 this year, with a gutsy win over Cyberknife in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. But the reason for his inclusion here is his biggest fan, Cody Dorman, who is unable to walk because of a genetic disorder and communicates using a tablet. Now 16, Cody met Cody’s Wish when the foal was unnamed in 2018 when he and his family were hosted by Godolphin during Keenelans’ Make-A-Wish day. The two formed a bond, and colt has never lost a race that Cody attended. Trained by Bill Mot, Cody’s Wish won this year’s Vox Populi award.

5. Bob Baffert. The Hall of Fame trainer was banned for two years from Churchill Downs Inc. racetracks because the late Medina Spirit tested positive last year for betamethasone after finishing first in the Kentucky Derby. In February the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission erased that victory and promoted Mandaloun to be the Derby winner. Baffert and owner Amr Zedan have fought that ruling since, both in courts and in front of a Kentucky hearing officer appointed to hear that appeal. The suspension remained in effect at the end of the year, and new rulings looked like they would be on hold until sometime in 2023.

6. Turf-course troubles. It started in June, when Churchill Downs suspended turf racing, saying the root system needed to develop more underneath the course. As a reminder, this course was replaced in 2021 at a cost of $10 million and reopened at the start of the spring meet. Churchill also had no turf racing in its September meet, but it resumed for the fall meet. Then Fair Grounds had trouble with the inner lanes of its turf course, which prevented it from offering turf racing when its current meet began Nov. 18. The latest word was that turf racing would resume Dec. 26 on a limited basis. And Gulfstream unveiled its new turf course in late November after pausing grass races in June.

7. Race grade changes. The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association created umbrage among fans in deciding that for 2023, five races would be downgraded to Grade 2 from Grade 1: the Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct, the Woodward at Belmont Park, the Clark at Churchill Downs, the Starlet at Los Alamitos and the Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita. It also upgraded the Stephen Foster at Churchill to Grade 1 from Grade 2. The Tampa Bay Derby was one of seven races downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3. Click here to see all the changes.

8. D. Wayne Lukas. How about this guy? The superstar trainer of the ’80s and ’90s had quite a resurgence this year, most notably with Secret Oath, who finished third against the boys in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on her way to winning the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Lukas also won the Honeybee (G3) with Secret Oath and the Adirondack (G3) with Naughty Gal for his first year with three graded wins since 2014. And he had Ethereal Road headed for the Kentucky Derby until a late scratch. He was slowed in December by five broken ribs after being thrown by a pony at Oaklawn.

9. Shoegate. Maybe inconsequential, maybe not, but it was one of the most-read stories on Horse Racing Nation this year. After Hot Rod Charlie won the Lukas Classic (G1) by a head over Rich Strike, a controversy emerged about whether Hot Rod Charlie was wearing toe grabs on his front shoes. Rich Strike’s trainer, Eric Reed, sent photos that appeared to show the violation to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chief steward Barbara Borden. Hot Rod Charlie’s trainer, Doug O’Neill denied that any horses in his stable wear toe grabs. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority agreed with a finding by Kentucky stewards that Hot Rod Charlie was wearing legal shoes. Rich Strike’s owner appealed that ruling, and the latest word is that HISA continues to investigate.

10. Chad Brown. The four-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding trainer was arrested in August on charges of choking a woman at his home. After several delays in the proceedings, he pleaded guilty to harassment in November and was to be sentenced to one year of conditional discharge.