Based on RMBs received through Oct. 10, 2008, The Jockey Club reports that 2,643 stallions covered 52,410 mares in North America during 2008.

The statistics include the number of mares bred to each stallion and represent approximately 92 percent of the mares that eventually will be reported as bred in 2008. The Jockey Club expects to receive RMBs representing an additional 4,000 to 5,000 mares bred from the 2008 breeding season, according to historical trends.

The number of stallions declined 5.9 percent from the 2,808 reported at this time in 2007, while the number of mares bred fell 7.7 percent from the 56,796 reported at this time last year.

“The 2008 RMB statistics indicate a further reduction of Thoroughbred breeding activity across North America,” said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s vice president of registration services. “Stallions with a book size of less than 25 accounted for 78 percent of the decline in the number of stallions and 30 percent of the drop in mares bred.”

Lion Heart led all stallions in 2008 with 214 mares bred, 20 more than Chapel Royal (194). Rounding out the top five were Giant’s Causeway (190), Hard Spun (181) and Street Cry (178).

Thoroughbred breeding activity in Kentucky traditionally paces North America. During 2008, Kentucky’s 318 reported stallions covered 21,317 mares, or 40.7 percent of all of the mares reported bred in North America. The number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions declined 1.9 percent against the 21,724 reported at this time last year.

Of the top 10 states and provinces by number of mares reported bred in 2008 through Oct. 10, 2008, only Ontario and Pennsylvania stallions covered more mares in 2008 than in 2007, as reported at this time last year. The top 10 states and provinces, ranked by number of mares reported bred through Oct. 10, 2008, are:

RMB statistics for all reported stallions in 2008 are available through the Publications & Resources section of The Jockey Club’s website at http://www.jockeyclub.com.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, while its affiliated companies serve the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms, among others.