The Jockey Club reported that 1,923 stallions covered 36,964 mares in North America in 2015 and those breedings have resulted in 21,991 live foals, according to statistics compiled through Sept. 15, 2016. They estimate that the number of live foals reported so far is about 90% complete. The reporting of live foals of 2016 is down 0.5% from 2015 when 22,104 live foals were reported.
In addition to the 21,991 live foals of 2016 reported through Sept. 15, The Jockey Club also received 2,457 No Foal Reports for the 2016 foaling season. Ultimately, the 2016 registered foal crop is projected to reach 22,500. The number of stallions declined 8.6% from the 2,103 reported for 2014 at this time last year, while the number of mares bred declined 0.7% from the 37,244 reported for 2014.
“It is important to note that the live foals reported in The Jockey Club breeding statistics are by conception area and do not represent the state in which a foal was born,” said Matt Iuliano, executive vice president and executive director, The Jockey Club. “Breeding statistics also are not a representation of a stallion's fertility record.”
Kentucky annually leads all states and provinces in terms of Thoroughbred breeding activity. Kentucky-based stallions accounted for 47.6% of the mares reported bred in North America in 2015 and 55.4% of the live foals reported for 2016. The 17,598 mares reported bred to 221 Kentucky stallions in 2015 have produced 12,184 live foals, a 2.79% increase on the 11,853 Kentucky-sired live foals of 2015 reported at this time last year. The number of mares reported bred to Kentucky stallions in 2015 increased 3% compared to the 17,088 reported for 2014 at this time last year.
Among the 10 states and provinces with the most mares covered in 2015, only three produced more live foals in 2016 than in 2015: Kentucky, Ontario, and Texas. The top 10 states or provinces ranked by number of live foals in 2016 are Kentucky (12,184), California (1,720), Florida (1,577), New York (940), Louisiana (893), New Mexico (452), Ontario (447), Maryland (411), Texas (383) and Oklahoma (361).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
