These are the top 10 racing stories of 2023

It was easy for Horse Racing Nation editors to come up with a list of top stories for 2023. The hard part was ranking them.

Recognizing that no two people would agree on an order of importance, or even which stories should be included, here's our list of the most significant events of the year.

1. Cody’s Wish. The sad death of his namesake, Cody Dorman, tempered the good feelings generated by this horse’s success and his touching relationship with the teeneager. The 5-year-old colt trained by Bill Mott won four of five starts this year, showing a hint of vulnerability when trying 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 1 Whitney and finishing third. But those wins included his second Breeders’ Cup Mile.

2. Horse fatalities. This was a steady undercurrent for much of the year. Twelve deaths at Churchill Downs in the spring, starting with Kentucky Derby hopeful Wild On Ice, who was euthanized after a training injury. They continued with the unexplained deaths of two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., which resulted in a suspension and a lost opportunity for a Kentucky Derby start. Twelve more at Saratoga, including the tragic breakdowns of Maple Leaf Mel and New York Thunder as they were about to win their races. Thirteen at Laurel Park. Havnameltdown on Preakness Stakes Day. Experts examined track surfaces and treatment records. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority issued reports. A new technology offered promise. But there were no definitive explanations for these clusters of fatalities.

3. Golden Gate Fields closing. Horsemen in Northern California were shocked in July as Stronach Group said it would close the track near San Francisco when racing ended for the year on Dec. 19. The company said it wanted to focus its West Coast operations on Southern California. The closing date was extended to June 30 after California’s legislature approved a bill that would divert betting dollars to Southern California when there is no racing in the north.

4. Forte. The 2-year-old champion became the center of a saga at age 3. The Kentucky Derby favorite was scratched on race day because of an injured foot. Owner Mike Repole said the decision was “overly dramatic.” The week after the Derby, word came that Forte failed a drug test after the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes last fall. He was disqualified, and Pletcher was suspended for 10 days and fined $1,000. Pletcher and Repole appealed, but the New York State Gaming Commission upheld the ruling in December, and Repole said he would continue to challenge it. Meanwhile, Forte was second in the Belmont Stakes, won the Jim Dandy (G2) and was third in the Travers (G3) before being retired a few weeks before he would have run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

5. Antonucci and Arcangelo. Each a big story on their own, they're even bigger together. Lightly regarded Arcangelo, winner of only a maiden and the Peter Pan (G3), won the Belmont Stakes, and Jena Antonucci became the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race. Could have been a fluke, but no. He impressed again in winning the Travers and was headed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but a foot problem took him out of the race and he was subsequently retired to stud.

6. 3-year-old retirements. Those last two items lead into this 2023 trend. Certainly, retiring top 3-year-olds is nothing new, but this year was notable for the caliber of those who left racing. Besides Forte and Arcangelo, Kentucky Derby winner Mage was retired when he developed “the beginnings of a small issue.” Arabian Lion, Justify’s first Grade 1 winner, joined the parade. And don’t forget promising Two Phil’s, a gutsy second in the Kentucky Derby. He had an ankle injury. In Europe, undefeated Ace, ranked the best 3-year-old in the world, also was retired.

7. Equinox. This year’s top active Thoroughbred in the world went 4-for-4 in 2023 and was retired after winning the Japan Cup in November, his sixth consecutive Grade 1 win. This year, the Japan-bred colt started the year with a win in the Dubai Sheema Classic then won the Takarazuka Kinen and the Tenno Sho Autumn in his home country. He will stand at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.

8. Dutrow and White Abarrio. This was a feel-good story on two counts. Rick Dutrow returned from a 10-year suspension, which many felt was unfair, and won right off the bat at Aqueduct. Then the owners of White Abarrio transferred the 4-year-old to Dutrow after Churchill Downs suspended Saffie Joseph Jr., which many felt was unfair. White Abarrio had gotten off to a great start at Gulfstream Park, culminating with a Florida Derby (G1) victory, but he could manage only an optional-claiming allowance win after that. Under Dutrow, he impressed with a third-place finish in the Met Mile (G1) then likely earned an Eclipse Award after strong wins in the Whitney (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

9. Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority takes full effect. After a false start, HISA’s anti-doping and medication regulations went into effect in May. Except where they didn’t because of pending litigation, with five lawsuits continuing against HISA and the Federal Trade Commission. The gist of the complaints is that HISA oversteps constitutional boundaries that limit what a private organization may do on behalf of the government. One of the authority’s initiatives in 2023 was to investigate the cluster of deaths at Churchill Downs and Laurel Park, though it found no conclusive explanation. It also addressed mental health for jockeys and began offering pro bono legal representation for those accused of violations.

10. Bob Baffert lawsuits. The Hall of Fame trainer’s legal dispute with Churchill Downs Inc. came to an end when a federal judge in Louisville, Ky., rejected the final claim in the case in May. The lawsuit stemmed from the trainer’s suspension by CDI after Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned substance following the 2021 Kentucky Derby. In July, Churchill Downs announced that it was continuing Baffert’s suspension through at least the end of 2024. Baffert also sued social-media influencers Justin Wunderler and Dan DiCorcia, alleging the pair attempted to extort the Hall of Fame trainer and defame his character.

Also of note

Bill Mott. You won’t find him in the top 10 for starts or wins, but he’s at no. 5 in earnings this year. And in the vein of quality over quantity, he’s had 24 graded wins this year, with 10 of them Grade 1s. Elite Power and Cody’s Wish were his top performers this year, and don’t forget the surprise win with Art Collector in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January.

Turfway Park. Good things are happening at the Northern Kentucky track. It opened its winter meet with a bang, with fields averaging more than 12 horses and higher purses.

Frankie Dettori. He announced his retirement and, while making a farewell tour, announced that he would return next year. Then he won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare turf and returned to Santa Anita for opening day on Dec. 26.

Turf trouble. Churchill Downs had more problems with the turf course it rebuilt in 2022. For its November meet this year, it limited its turf races then took all races off the turf for the final three months.

NHC collusion. In July the National Thoroughbred Racing Association suspended three competitors from the Chicago area who were accused of collusion during this year’s National Horseplayers Championship.

Wagering woes. Bettors were outraged in July when the New York Racing Association announced just before the first leg in the late Pick 5 that the day’s last three turf races would be moved to the main track. In November, Multiple FanDuel Racing accounts were able to take advantage of a glitch that debited balances only the base cost of a wager rather than the total cost of the wager for several hours in November. In December, Zia Park allowed wagering on a race to continue until after the race was completed.

Jockey suicides. Avery Whisman and Alex Canchari died by suicide last winter. Their deaths cast new light on the physical, mental and emotional demands that jockeys face. In the fall, HISA created a jockey mental health steering committee and advisory council to address such issues.

Milestone. Jessica Paquette became the first woman to call a Grade 1 race when she was at the microphone for the Cotillion and Pennsylvania Derby in September.

Kentucky Downs raises takeout. Social-media dismay ensued when the Franklin, Ky., track raised its takeout by 1 percentage point across the board. The track cited higher costs and said it still has the lowest takeout of any major track.

Asmussen hits 10,000 wins. Already the winningest Thoroughbred trainer from North America, Steve Asmussen became the first on the continent to reach 10,000 career victories when 4-year-old Bet He’s Ready won at Oaklawn in February.

Turf Paradise saga. It was an on-again, off-again year for the Arizona track, both in terms of whether it would be sold and when it might race. Owner Jerry Simms decided not to sell, and after receiving approval from the Arizona Racing Commission, the track said it would host a 57-day live meet, starting in January.