Champion and classic winner Lemon Drop Kid, a consistently successful stallion who hails from some of the cornerstone families of Lane's End Farm, has been pensioned and will continue to live out his retirement at his longtime home on that farm. The son of former Lane's End sire Kingmambo is 25 this year.
Thoroughbred Charities of America's annual stallion season auction, its largest fundraiser, is underway with an altered format this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online bidding on over 200 seasons for stallions standing in 14 states began online Wednesday and will continue through Friday with staggered ending times.
Champion and Hall of Fame racemare Azeri has been pensioned from her broodmare career in Japan. Azeri has resided in Japan since she was purchased for $2.25 million by Katsumi Yoshida at the 2009 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, and has now moved into a new phase of her life in her adopted home.
The Korean Thoroughbred industry has built its foundation on American stock, as it is one of the other international jurisdictions with a predilection for dirt racing. While there may be a drop in the number of American-bred young horses racing in Korea in coming years, as that nation, like everywhere else, continues to struggle with the global COVID-19 pandemic, American stallions will continue to play a prominent role in the industry. That continued demand was seen with the recent purchase of multiple Grade 1 winner Dortmund to stand in South Korea beginning in 2021.
Changes rolled through the Thoroughbred bloodstock world in 2020. Some of those, were a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and may be temporary. Others were seismic changes, as new industry rules, the deaths of major stallions and the emergence of others, and the loss of major farms will have an impact on the bedrock of the industry.
Multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Money will enter stud at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla., in 2021.
Clubhouse Ride has a smaller bench than many of California’s other leading sires, being bred to smaller books of mares. However, he has been consistently finishing among the state’s top 10 sires by earnings. He did so again in 2020 and is garnering notice because of his results.
Smiling Tiger made his name on the racetracks of California, becoming a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire. He has stood his entire stallion career in the Golden State and is becoming one of the leading sires for the region that made him.
The well-traveled Heartwood is scheduled to begin a stud career at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif., early next year. By the time Heartwood reaches the central California farm, he could have a significantly enhanced race record.
The next few years will be a period of change for the massive racing and breeding stable of Paul and Zillah Reddam, who have one of the best known operations in modern California racing. The transition centers on a revamped list of stallions for the upcoming breeding season.
