WinStar Caps 2018 as Leading Breeder

In 2009, WinStar Farm took advantage of the recession to expanded its broodmare band from a core group of 60 to more than double that amount, an investment made with the goal of generating revenue to sustain the farm for generations to come.

"We had a lot of land, a lot of facilities, and it didn't feel like we had the number of mares to support that," recalled Elliott Walden, president and CEO of racing operations for WinStar. "We went out and bought a lot of mares when the market was kind of in a depressed state, but over the past four years we've tried to upgrade the quality."

According to Walden, in the past three years the Kentucky operation has spent $55 million on bloodstock in general, with more than half of that amount designated for mares. The farm's band currently totals 134 head.

"We've spent about $29 million on mares, so we've tried to improve our broodmare band over the past three years," he said. "I think we're starting to see the fruits of that, and hopefully will see more in the future."

Part of the harvest in 2018 was a season atop the individual breeders list in North America, as WinStar-bred runners accounted for $8,765,757 in earnings, according to statistics released Jan. 8 by The Jockey Club Information Systems. WinStar produced 219 starters with 204 wins, 164 seconds, and 144 thirds from 1,216 starts. WinStar also led the individual breeders list in 2016.

Calumet Farm was second with earnings of $8,572,959 and 211 wins from 1,787 starts.

In addition, WinStar topped the breeders list that includes partners, with $11,817,080 in earnings and 319 wins from 2,020 starts. Calumet Farm came in second with $8,630,379 in earnings and 213 wins out of 1,812 starts.

Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey were the nation's leading breeders by wins, with 238 from 1,680 starts for earnings of $7,037,007.

"We put a lot of commitment behind our broodmare band," Walden said. "I think it shows, and we're really proud of the whole team. When you're leading breeder, everybody on the farm really has a hand in it—the people that work with the stallions, the mares, and the foals, growing them up to hit the racetrack."

Walden gave credit to WinStar owner Kenny Troutt for his unflagging passion for the sport.

"It's not a lot different than Coach Cal at (University of) Kentucky, if he wins the national championship, or Clemsen last night where (head coach) Brad Brownell said, 'We'll celebrate this week, but we get back to working and looking forward to next year on Friday,'" Walden said. "We're still extremely passionate and excited about what we're doing.    

"Mister Troutt is so passionate about the business, he loves every part of it. He loves the farm, he loves all the action that comes with breeding and racing. So as long as his passion is there—which it is, alive and well—we're going to continue to do the same thing we always try to do, and that's to breed everything with excellence and to do everything so that it brings glory to God, because that's our main focus."

View the complete list of the top 100 year-end leading breeders ranked by earnings via Equibase.

View the complete list of the top 100 year-end leading breeders (including partnerships) ranked by earnings via Equibase.