Photo:

Autry Graham/Spendthrift Farm

The Jockey Club projected a North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 17,300 in 2025. This represents 700 fewer foals than the 2024 foal crop estimate of 18,000.

The foal crop projection is computed by using reports of mares bred received to date for the 2024 breeding season. RMBs are to be filed by Aug. 1 of each breeding season.

This year, The Jockey Club has published preliminary statistics regarding mares reported bred by state or province through the current date for 2024, 2023 and 2022. These reports are updated daily and can be found on The Jockey Club website.

For the RMBs received through Sept. 30, The Jockey Club reports that 771 stallions covered 25,301 mares in North America during 2024.

The Jockey Club estimates an additional 2,500 to 3,500 mares will be reported as bred during the 2024 breeding season.

The following table shows the number of covering stallions and the number of mares bred over the past 10 years in North America as reported to The Jockey Club through Sept. 30 of the breeding year.

Kentucky traditionally leads North America in Thoroughbred breeding activity. During 2024, Kentucky’s 192 reported stallions covered 16,543 mares, or 65.38 percent of all of the mares reported bred in North America.

Practical Joke had the highest number of mares bred in 2024 with 277 followed by Justify, 263; Gunite, 256; Golden Pal, 209; Elite Power, 203; Uncle Mo, 202; Gun Runner, 200; Pappacap, 200; Taiba, 200; and Vekoma, 200.