Report of Mares Bred: Fewer Stallions Covering More Mares

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The Jockey Club reported Thursday that 3,239 stallions covered 59,342 mares in North America during 2004, according to Reports of Mares Bred (RMB's) received by the Jockey Club through Oct. 14.

Following a trend from last year's statistics that indicate larger books for stallions, fewer stallions covered more mares in 2004. The Jockey Club's report shows the number of stallions declined 3.1% from the 3,342 reported at this time in 2003, while the number of mares bred increased 1% against the 58,755 reported at this time last year.

The statistics include the number of mares bred to each stallion and represent approximately 90% of the mares bred in 2004. Historical trends indicate the Jockey Club will receive an additional 800-1,000 RMB's from the 2004 breeding season.

"Despite the Aug. 1 deadline for submission of RMB's, we still haven't received reports for about a quarter of all stallions," said Matt Iuliano, the Jockey Club's vice president of registration services. "However, the 2004 mares bred returns to date are similar to those of 2003 which would support our earlier forecast of 37,200 North American registered foals of 2005."

The number of stallions bred to 100 or more mares increased from 108 last year to 117 in 2004. First-year stallion Hold That Tiger led all stallions with 199 mares bred, six more than Fusaichi Pegasus. Hold That Tiger, a grade I-winning son of Storm Cat--Beware of the Cat, by Caveat stands at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. A half-brother to Belmont (gr. I) winner Editor's Note, Hold That Tigers's 2004 stud fee was $15,000. Fusaichi Pegasus   also stands at Ashford.

In fact, the top five stallions by mares bred all stand at Ashford. Grand Slam (191 mares covered), Van Nistelrooy (186), and Tale of the Cat (185) round out the top five.

Seventeen stallions covered at least 150 mares. Last year, 12 stallions covered that many.

States or provinces in which a stallion covered at least 100 mares were Kentucky (91); Florida (17); California (3); Maryland (2); New York (2); Louisiana (1); and Ontario (1).

The top-covering stallion in Florida is Gold Storm, with 155 mares covered; the top Maryland-based sire is Lion Hearted   with 127. Both are also sons of Storm Cat.

Gulf Storm, out of the Turkoman mare Miss Turkana is also a first-year stallion. He stood the 2004 season at Lou-Roe Farm near Morrison, Fla. Lion Hearted  , out of the Alydar mare Cadillacing, stands at Northview Stallion Station near Chesapeake City, Md. His first runners are 2-year-olds this year and he as two stakes winners.

Sortable RMB listing: http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/marelistreport.asp

RMB statistics for all reported stallions in 2003 are available on The Jockey Club Web site at:
http://www.jockeyclub.com/information.asp?reportrequest=RMB

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