California Chrome moving to Arrow Stud in Japan

Two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome is the latest accomplished runner to join the Japanese stallion ranks, as he has been purchased to stand at Arrow Stud beginning in 2020.

The syndicate that stood California Chrome at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky - he also shuttled to Chile for two seasons - recently reached an agreement with JS Company Ltd. of Japan to purchase California Chrome, subject to the Japanese government’s quarantine and export requirements being met. As part of the agreement, the syndicate has first right of refusal if the new owners ever wish to sell. Upon being pensioned from breeding, plans call for California Chrome to be repatriated to live out his retirement. Perry and Denise Martin, California Chrome's co-breeders and original co-owners, will continue to participate in California Chrome’s breeding career in Japan.

“We were approached by representatives of the buyer, and being that California Chrome is owned by a 50-share syndicate, the offer was presented to the shareholders for a vote,” Taylor Made’s Duncan Taylor said in a release. “Ultimately, the results were in favor of moving forward with the sale. California Chrome is the best horse we have ever owned, and he will now have the opportunity to have offspring performing in three different countries. California Chrome is a very special horse and means a lot to not only the team members of Taylor Made but to the thousands of fans he has across the country.”

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California Chrome retired to Taylor Made for the 2017 season after a racing career in which he won seven Grade 1/Group 1 races, including the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and 2016 Dubai World Cup. He retired with earnings of $14,752,650. A two-time Horse of the Year, his first foals are yearlings of this season, and he has averaged $89,500 from 42 sold nationwide.

California Chrome is the latest accomplished runner stepping into a market in Japan that has a massive void after losing leading sires Deep Impact and King Kamehameha in the last year. Multiple Grade 1 winner Bricks and Mortar, a leading candidate to be named Horse of the Year, leads that charge, as Shadai Farm reached an agreement for his stud rights earlier this year. Shadai has also purchased New Year's Day, the sire of multiple Grade 1 winner Maximum Security from his second crop.

Champion Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup, was purchased from Darley by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association to stand in that country beginning in 2020. Meanwhile, Darley is bolstering its own Japanese stallion ranks, retiring two-time Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow to that operation and moving multiple Group 1 winner Hawkbill in from Europe.