Inside the Mid-Atlantic stallion and mares bred numbers
Virginia on the rise
The Biz
October 13, 2026
Virginia’s growing stallion roster helped cushion a decline in Mid-Atlantic breeding activity in 2026, according to The Jockey Club’s preliminary Report of Mares Bred.
Stallions standing in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and New Jersey covered a combined 967 mares, down 4.0% from 1,007 at the same point last year. The region’s stallion count slipped from 63 to 61, a 3.2% decrease.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
Nationally, 23,932 mares were reported bred as of Oct. 1, down 3.0% from 24,662 at the same time in 2025. The current national total is expected to grow by another 2,000 to 3,000 mares as additional reports arrive, making these figures a preliminary snapshot.
Delaware is excluded from the regional figures because it has no stallions.
Virginia was the region’s lone state to register growth, with mares bred more than tripling from 30 to 92. Its stallion count increased from six to nine, while the average book rose from five mares to 10.2.
Cross Traffic led Virginia stallions with 59 mares, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the state’s reported total. Virginia’s gain of 62 mares offset much of the combined decline of 102 in the other four states.
Maryland remained the region’s largest breeding state, with 394 mares bred to 15 stallions. That represented a 10.3% decline from 439 mares in 2025, despite an unchanged stallion count. The average Maryland book fell from 29.3 mares to 26.3.
Post Time topped both Maryland and the region with 72 mares, narrowly ahead of Blofeld’s 68. Together, the two accounted for more than one-third of Maryland’s reported activity.
Pennsylvania’s decline was more modest. Its stallions covered 253 mares, down four, or 1.6%, from last year. The number of stallions fell from 19 to 18, nudging the average book up from 13.5 to 14.1 mares. Enticed led the state with 45 mares.
West Virginia experienced the largest numerical decline, falling from 248 mares to 198, a 20.2% decrease. Its stallion roster contracted from 20 to 18, and the average book dropped from 12.4 mares to 11. Juba led West Virginia with 47 mares.
New Jersey reported 30 mares bred, down 9.1% from 33 last year. All were bred to Sea Wizard, the state’s lone reported stallion, compared with three stallions in 2025.
The longer view shows a sharper regional contraction. Since 2024, reported mares bred have fallen 14.6%, from 1,132 to 967, while the stallion count has dropped 22.8%, from 79 to 61. With stallion numbers declining faster than mares bred, the region’s average book has increased from 14.3 mares to 15.9.
| State | 2026 Mares Bred | Change vs. 2025 | 2026 Stallions | Change vs. 2025 | 2026 Avg. Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 394 | -10.3% | 15 | 0.0% | 26.3 |
| Pennsylvania | 253 | -1.6% | 18 | -5.3% | 14.1 |
| West Virginia | 198 | -20.2% | 18 | -10.0% | 11.0 |
| Virginia | 92 | +206.7% | 9 | +50.0% | 10.2 |
| New Jersey | 30 | -9.1% | 1 | -66.7% | 30.0 |
| Mid-Atlantic total | 967 | -4.0% | 61 | -3.2% | 15.9 |
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
LATEST NEWS
