Statistics from The Jockey Club for the 2010 breeding season show that the number of stallions that serviced mares fell 9.3% and the number of mares bred fell 10.5% when compared to the same period a year ago.
Based on the Report of Mares Bred received through Oct. 13, 2010, The Jockey Club reports that 2,186 stallions covered 40,576 mares in North America during 2010. Based on reports through the same period one year ago, 2,409 stallions had serviced 45,317.
According to The Jockey Club, the annual statistics include the number of mares bred to each stallion and represent approximately 90% of the mares that eventually will be reported as bred in 2010. Based on historical trends, the breed registry expects to receive RMBs representing an additional 4,000 to 4,500 mares bred from the 2010 breeding season.
Of the top 10 states and provinces by number of mares reported bred in 2010 through Oct. 13, only Louisiana and Ontario stallions covered more mares in 2010 than in 2009, as reported at this time last year.
The following table shows the top 10 states and provinces, ranked by number of mares reported bred in 2010 through October 13, 2010:
| State/Province |
2009
Stallions |
2010
Stallions |
Pct.
Change |
2009
Mares Bred |
2010
Mares Bred |
Pct.
Change |
| Kentucky |
307
|
266
|
-13.4
|
19,059
|
17,303
|
-9.2
|
| Louisiana |
216
|
205
|
-5.1
|
3,048
|
3,093
|
+1.5
|
| Florida |
155
|
123
|
-20.6
|
4,041
|
3,076
|
-23.9
|
| California |
201
|
184
|
-8.5
|
2,946
|
2,523
|
-14.4
|
| Pennsylvania |
97
|
97
|
0.0
|
1,603
|
1,542
|
-3.8
|
| Ontario |
72
|
78
|
+8.3
|
1,260
|
1,385
|
+9.9
|
| New York |
70
|
53
|
-24.3
|
1,561
|
1,291
|
-17.3
|
| Oklahoma |
113
|
129
|
+14.2
|
1,222
|
1,207
|
-1.2
|
| New Mexico |
124
|
118
|
-4.8
|
1,222
|
1,181
|
-3.4
|
| Texas |
174
|
142
|
-18.4
|
1,411
|
1,046
|
-25.9
|
Kentucky’s 266 reported stallions covered 17,303 mares, or 42.6% of all of the mares reported bred in North America. The number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions declined 9.2%, compared with the 19,059 reported at this time last year.
In 2010, Giant's Causeway led all stallions with 217 mares bred. Rounding out the top five were Dunkirk, 186; Kitten's Joy , 173; and Candy Ride and Malibu Moon , each with 172.
RMB statistics for all reported stallions in 2010 are available through the Publications & Resources section of The Jockey Club’s website at jockeyclub.com.
"The decline in breeding activity in 2010 falls in line with our forecasted 10% decline for next year’s registered foal crop, from 30,000 foals in 2010 to 27,000 foals in 2011," Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s executive vice president and executive director, said in a statement.
Although the number of stallions covering 100 or more mares declined from 85 in 2009 to 82 in 2010, these stallions accounted for a greater percentage of the total mares reported bred this year — 26.8% of mares bred in 2010 versus 24.6% of mares bred in 2009, according to the release.
According to The Jockey Club, a review of the 4,741 fewer mares bred in 2010 by stallion book size shows that 34.8% of the decline in mares bred occurred in stallion book sizes under 25; 16.7% occurred in stallion book sizes between 25 and 49; 34.7% occurred in stallion book sizes between 50 and 74; 8.3% occurred in stallion book sizes between 75 and 99; and 5.5% occurred in stallion book sizes of 100 or more.