Twenty notes of interest from the year that was.

by Bob Heyden

1. The top three broodmare sires of all time are: Artsplace ($494,710,137), Albatross ($451,057,353) and Abercrombie ($372,481,156).

2. Did Bulldog Hanover give his sire Shadow Play a boost in 2022? It doesn’t appear so. He sold 30 in total — 15 colts and 15 fillies — for an average of $16,583 with Alpine Seelster at $42,000 the topper.

3. Bulldog was 20th on the list in 2022 for most mares bred with 79.

4. Who bred the most mares in 2022? Cattlewash at 178 on the pacing side; Green Manalishi at 163 for the trotters.

5. Racing Hill is back and racing. He will be 10 on Jan. 1. The fastest sophomore in Breeders Crown history (1:48, 2016 Crown at The Meadowlands), in 2022 as a stallion he had 25 yearlings sold for an average of $24,760.

6. Of Rockin Image’s top nine yearlings, eight were sold at the Hoosier Classic Sale.

7. How could this be? How do you make over $5 million without ever starting more than 12 times in any season? Bold Eagles has done exactly that. He earned $5,701,478 and had a record of 74 46-11-4.

8. $100,000 and up yearlings in 2022: Always B Miki 9, American Ideal 6, Captain Crunch 11, Stay Hungry 12 Sweet Lou 11, Bettors Delight 19, Greenshoe 30, Chapter Seven 33, Walner 42 and Captaintreacherous 50.

9. Catch The Fire, Bettors Wish, Bulldog Hanover and Cattlewash all should be commended for the excellence on the track and in the breeding shed in 2022.

10. Greenshoe sold 10 $200,000 and up yearlings at Lexington alone.

11. Chapter Seven had four $500,000 and up yearlings in 2022.

12. Twenty trotters bred 100 plus mares.

13. More money was spent on yearlings in 2022 than any other year — $146,026,450.

14. Where were the most mares bred? Indiana (3,750), Ohio (3,405), Pennsylvania (2,604).

15. Breeders Crown trotting starters in 2022 by sire: Walner 15, Chapter Seven 11 and the next four trotting sires combined had 10 (Muscle Hill 3, Cantab Hall 3, Muscle Mass 2, Tactical Landing 2)

16. No Walner filly yearling at Harrisburg sold for less than $110,000 (nine total).

17. 2022 average per starter: Chapter Seven $71,431, Walner $70,474, Muscle Hill $48,231.

18. Thirty-five of the 93 sophomore Walner starters in 2022 raced in 1:55 or better.

19. The last time a pacer was the highest-priced yearling of any year was 2012 when $380,000 Churchill Hanover earned the honor.

20. Captaintreacherous had 36 yearlings sell for $150,000 or more in 2022.

WHAT DARLING’S PEERS HAVE TO SAY

What do some of trainer Jack Darling’s peers say about him?

Bruce Riegle: “Good friend, great trainer. A little conservative. Doesn’t matter if it’s an average colt, a very laid back one or a good one, Jack doesn’t miss anything.”

Mark Macdonald: “A great horseman, has been for a very long time. Patient guy, great with young horses. He usually has a smaller bunch. He must be doing something right.”

Blair Burgess: “He knows what he is doing. Especially in the yearling selection.”

Mark Jordan: “I met him in the 1970s at Windsor. He’s the exact same guy now. Top shelf. I don’t think he was ever crazy about driving.”

Rob Harmon: “Standup guy. A great guy. I’ve known him since Hazel Park-Windsor days. He’s quiet and does his work.”

Murray Brown: “Terrific standup and standout guy.”

Brad Grant: “Great person. Cares about our sport. He really thinks things through before he speaks. Humble. From what I can see a strong family man.”

Rod Allen: “Met him many years ago at Pompano. I sold him a horse — Keewasakee — and he then beat me in the open that week. I really appreciate his horsemanship.”

Brian Brown: “As far as I know a really good guy.”

Tammy McNiven: “The kindest, most down to earth person we know. He is very hands-on selecting yearlings. He does lots of homework in his search for the next big horse. He definitely has a ‘type’ of horse he likes. Obviously, it has worked for him. His integrity is beyond reproach in both the business and his family life.”

Linda Toscano: “Jack sent me a horse many year ago to train — a mare — but don’t ask me her name now. Jack and I have the same kind of approach at yearlings, we laugh about it at times. Very happy to see him with a horse like Bulldog Hanover.”