North American 2021 Foal Crop Declines 3.3%

The North American foal crop for 2021 slid another 3.3% to 19,201, declining to a level not seen since the mid-1960s, according to statistics released Oct. 8 by The Jockey Club.

The Jockey Club reported 1,447 stallions covered 29,699 mares in North America during 2020, according to statistics compiled through Oct. 4 from Live Foal Reports submitted. The Jockey Club estimates the number of live foals reported so far is 85-90% complete. Last year at this time, The Jockey Club had received reports for 19,677 live foals of 2020.

In addition to the 19,021 live foals of 2021 reported through Oct. 4, The Jockey Club also received 2,195 No Foal Reports for the 2021 foaling season. Ultimately, the 2021 registered foal crop is projected to reach 19,200.

The number of stallions declined 6.8% from the 1,552 reported for 2019 at this time last year, while the number of mares bred declined 4.8% from the 31,198 reported for 2019.

See the 2021 Foals and 2020 Report of Mares Bred by Stallion

Kentucky annually leads all states and provinces in terms of Thoroughbred breeding activity. Kentucky-based stallions accounted for 55.5% of the mares reported bred in North America in 2020 and 60.6% of the live foals reported for 2021.

The 16,485 mares reported bred to 212 Kentucky stallions in 2020 have produced 11,535 live foals, a 2.7% decrease on the 11,851 Kentucky-sired live foals of 2020 reported at this time last year. The number of mares reported bred to Kentucky stallions in 2020 decreased 4.4% compared to the 17,240 reported for 2019 at this time last year.

Among the 10 states and provinces with the most mares covered in 2020, three produced more live foals in 2021 than in 2020 as reported at this time last year: Maryland, Ontario, and New Mexico.

Forty-three stallions were reported to have sired 100 or more foals of 2021, led by Ashford Stud's Uncle Mo   with 197 live foals. He is followed by Spendthrift Farm's Into Mischief   (191), WinStar Farm's Constitution   (187), Ashford's Mendelssohn   (181), Spendthrift's Vino Rosso   (180), Ashford's Justify   (174), Spendthrift's Mitole   (166), WinStar's Audible   (159), Ashford's Munnings   (157), and Three Chimneys Farm's Palace Malice   (155), who are the top 10 stallions by number of live foals.

The statistics include 243 progeny of stallions standing in North America but foaled abroad, as reported by foreign stud book authorities at the time of publication.

The report also includes 64 mares bred to 23 stallions in North America on Southern Hemisphere time; the majority of these mares have not foaled.

As customary, a report listing the number of mares bred in 2021 will be released later this month.