It's a rather uncommon sight to witness stallion prospects taking to the racetrack at the age of 4. However, within the 21st century, there have been some remarkable instances where these older stallions have shone brightly. Brett Sturman's recent column got us pondering about the prevalence of 4-year-old stallions in the older division over the years.

Unraveling the Stories of 4-Year-Old Stallions in Racing History

Bulldog Hanover: A Record-Setting 4-Year-Old Stallion

Over the past 25 years and perhaps even all-time, Bulldog Hanover's 4-year-old season stands out. Just two years ago, he had a campaign that set records. As the first-ever unanimous Horse of the Year, he broke the 1:46 speed barrier with a string of powerful performances. In Canada, where he won stakes like the Somebeachsomewhere and a North America Cup elimination, he lost the O'Brien Award honors that year to NA Cup winner Desperate Man. But his performance at Hoosier, winning over half a million dollars and achieving a mark of 1:48, showed enough promise for him to come back even stronger at 4.This case is a good reflection of the trending dynamics of more elite 3-year-olds retiring early. Bulldog Hanover was at the higher end of his 3-year-old division but not the best. His story highlights the potential for these older stallions to make a significant impact.

Bettor’s Wish: A 3-Year-Old Champion with 4-Year-Old Potential

Bettor’s Wish was not only a Dan Patch winner at 3 but also an impressive racer. In 19 starts, he was never worse than second, achieving a mark of 1:47.4 and earning over $1.6 million. Just five years ago, his season was remarkable. It's hard to believe that in today's environment, he would have been retired without the chance to prove himself even more as a 4-year-old. His story shows the potential that some 3-year-old champions have to continue their success as 4-year-olds.

Mister Big and Lis Mara: The Unpredictability of 3-Year-Olds

Mister Big was a 3-year-old who won just three times from 16 starts, earning over $275,000 with a mark of 1:49.2. But towards the end of the season, he was on the right track, winning his Breeders Crown elimination and being second in the final trained by Tim Pinske. Lis Mara, on the other hand, wasn't particularly special as a 3-year-old, winning just over $175,000 and being a marginal stakes player. However, like Mister Big, they both showed the unpredictability of 3-year-olds, stepping up massively as 4-year-old stallions.

Trotters: A Different Story

On the trotting side, more 4-year-old stallion champions have emerged relatively recently. Winners Bet, Gimpanzee, Six Pack, Marion Marauder, Chapter Seven, and Rotation are some of the names on the list. Chapter Seven had an outstanding 4-year-old season, amassing over $1 million in just 10 starts, winning eight times and being second in the other two. Gimpanzee established high credentials in battling with Greenshoe and continued to race as a 4-year-old, coming close to another million-dollar season.These examples from the trotting world show that while the pacing side may have seen fewer 4-year-old stallion successes, the trotting side has had its share of remarkable stories.The current breeding market for trotters gives incentive for the best prospects to retire as 3-year-olds. But when exceptional 4-year-old stallions do emerge, they often follow the profiles of lesser proven or lightly raced 3-year-olds. The odds of seeing stellar 3-year-olds like Art Major, Real Desire, or Bettor’s Wish continue to race the following season with an immediate breeding opportunity seem to be greatly diminished. Lesser foreseen horses will need to step up and fill the void.