US foal crop set to decline next year as Practical Joke leads stallion books

The Jockey Club is projecting a North American-registered thoroughbred foal crop of 17,300 in 2025, representing 700 fewer foals than the 2024 estimate of 18,000.

The foal crop projection is computed by using Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) received to date for the 2024 breeding season. For those received through September 30, it 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.

Through September 30 of the breeding year in 2022, 880 stallions covered 26,744 mares and last year it was 825 covering 26,202. RMB statistics, sortable by stallion, mares bred, or state, for all reported stallions in 2024 are available through the Fact Book section of The Jockey Club’s website.

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

The number of stallions that covered 200 or more mares had also declined and was down to ten, from 14. 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).

Stallion owners who have not returned their RMBs for the 2024 breeding season are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. The 2023 breeding statistics, which includes data for live foal reports for the 2024 foaling season, will be released later this month.

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