The Jockey Club, in its Report of Mares Bred statistics for 2007, found both an increase in breeding activity in Kentucky and a slight decline in the number of North American stallions covering at least 100 mares.
The statistics include the number of mares bred to each stallion and represent approximately 90% of the mares bred in 2007.
Based on statistics received through Oct. 11, The Jockey Club reported that 2,808 stallions covered 56,796 mares in North America during 2007. Compared to last year's figures, the number of stallions dropped 8% and the number of mares bred declined 4.4%.
During 2007, Kentucky’s 333 reported stallions covered 21,724 mares, or 38.2% of all of the mares reported bred in North America. The number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions increased 2.6% against the 21,172 reported at this time last year.
Following Kentucky by both number and percentage of mares bred were Florida, California, Louisiana, New York, Texas, New Mexico, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Ontario.
In 2007 in North America, 125 stallions were bred to 100 or more mares, down from 126 stallions in 2005 and 2006. Of those 125 stallions in 2007, there were 102 that stood in Kentucky. In 2006, there were 94 of them that called Kentucky home.
Other locales in which stallions covered 100 or more mares in 2007 were Florida (12 stallions), California (3), Maryland (3), New York (2), Arkansas (1), Louisiana (1). and Ontario, Canada (1).
Stormy Atlantic , who stands at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington, led all stallions in 2007 with 199 mares bred, four more than Johannesburg (195). Rounding out the top five were Wildcat Heir (177), With Distinction (177). and Giant's Causeway (176).
“We encourage those who haven’t already done so to submit their RMBs as soon as possible to not only avoid delays in receiving their Service Certificates but to provide us with a good statistical base for assessing the 2008 foal crop,” said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s vice president of registration services.
The Jockey Club expects to receive an additional 800 to 1,000 reports from the 2007 breeding season, according to historical trends.
