Michigan: Fewer races, fewer mares bred in 2011

This year’s survey of the Midwest stallion market and the corresponding broodmare population reflects the pragmatic attitude regional breeders have adopted since the nation’s economic downturn that preceded the 2009 breeding season. While returns at the major Thoroughbred sales this year are registering increases compared with the last several years, stallion and mare populations in the Midwest have remained constant, even in states where purses are supplemented by added gaming revenue.

With the closing of Pinnacle Race Course in 2010, racing in Michigan continued last year – albeit on the smallest of scales – at Mount Pleasant Meadows with a 28-day meet. Accordingly, the number of mares bred to stallions in the state dropped by half in 2011, with just 102 mares being reported bred.

Equality bested the state’s perennial leading stallions Demaloot Demashoot and The Deputy to lead Michigan’s stallion ranks for the first time in his career, with progeny earnings of $448,054. A son of Mt. Livermore, Equality stands at Dickinson Farms in Montgomery for a private fee.