Report of mares bred shows Midlantic declines
The Jockey Club is projecting a North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 17,000 in 2026. This represents 300 fewer foals than the 2025 foal crop estimate of 17,300.
That represents a decline of 1.7%.
The foal crop projection is computed by using Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) received to date for the 2025 breeding season. RMBs are to be filed by August 1 of each breeding season.
For the RMBs received through September 30, 2025, The Jockey Club reports that 740 stallions covered 24,681 mares in North America during 2025.
The Jockey Club estimates an additional 2,000 to 3,000 mares will be reported as bred during the 2025 breeding season.
Through Sept. 30, the reported 63 stallions standing in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia bred 1,007 mares. Those numbers are down from 79 stallions and 1,133 mares bred at the same time last year, representing drops of 20% and 11%, respectively.
The Jockey Club’s estimates suggest that the number of mares bred in the Mid-Atlantic could increase by eight to 12 percent as later reports come in.
Because The Jockey Club’s figures are updated daily, they will not exactly match those included here.
As of Sept. 30, Maryland led the way among Mid-Atlantic states, with 15 stallions having bred 439 mares. That’s seven fewer stallions (31.8%) but only three fewer mares bred (less than 1 percent) than at the same time in 2024. The state’s most popular sire, Murmur Farm’s Blofeld, bred 96 mares.
Pennsylvania was next, with 19 stallions having bred 257 mares. Those numbers compared unfavorably with 2024, however, when by the same time 24 stallions had bred 362 mares. Those represent drops of 21% among stallions and 29% in mares bred. Pennsylvania’s leading sire, Zozos, bred 38 mares.
West Virginia saw 20 stallions breed 248 mares, down 13% and 12.4%, respectively, from a year ago. My Prankster bred 51 mares.
Information from a The Jockey Club news release with additional analysis.
MID-ATLANTIC STALLIONS AND MARES BRED BY STATE
Statistics through Sept. 30 and compared to the same period of 2024
State | Stallions | Mares bred | 2024 stallions | 2024 mares bred | Pct. Change # of stallions | Pct. Change mares bred |
MD | 15 | 439 | 22 | 442 | -31.82% | -0.68% |
NJ | 3 | 33 | 5 | 39 | -40.00% | -15.38% |
PA | 19 | 257 | 24 | 362 | -20.83% | -29.01% |
VA | 6 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 20.00% | 328.57% |
WV | 20 | 248 | 23 | 283 | -13.04% | -12.37% |
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