Gainesway announces 2015 stud fees, Tapit booked full

Gainesway in Lexington, Ky., has announced the advertised 2015 fees for its seven-horse stallion roster.

Leading the group is Tapit, who established the single-year record for North American progeny earnings in 2014, in addition to maintaining his position as the leading sire by gross and average at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

As announced last week, the 13-year-old son of Pulpit will stand for an advertised fee of $300,000, expected to be North America’s highest rate for the 2015 breeding season. Tapit’s book is already full for the upcoming season, according to a release from Gainesway.

Gainesway also announced that To Honor and Serve and Hat Trick will be offered under a "Breed Secure" program. Gainesway’s initiative models itself after the program pioneered by Spendthrift Farm. However, in Gainesway’s model, if the foal does not sell at auction for an amount to recoup the stud fee, then no money is owed.

To Honor and Serve, whose first foals are weanlings of 2014, will be offered for $20,000 under the Breed Secure program, or $15,000 under a regular contract payable when the foal stands and nurses. Hat Trick will be advertised for $15,000 under Breed Secure or $10,000 when the foal stands and nurses.

Additionally, Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone will be advertised for $5,000 under a standard contract, but his fee will be waived for approved mares who have graded stakes earnings in the first two generations of their families. Birdstone was advertised for $10,000 in 2014.

“The November breeding stock sales have been very strong; however, the stallion market remains very competitive,” said Michael Hernon, Gainesway’s director of sales. “As such, we have adapted our own version of a BreedSecure program for two of our stallions and are offering a unique breeding arrangement for Birdstone.”

Elsewhere on the Gainesway stallion roster, Grade 1 winner Afleet Express will stand for $2,500 in 2015 after being advertised for $5,000 last year. Fees for classic winner Afleet Alex and Grade 1 winner Tapizar are unchanged from 2014.

Following are the advertised 2015 stud fees for the 2015 Gainesway stallion roster:

Afleet Alex - $12,500
Afleet Express - $2,500
Birdstone - $5,000 LFSN or free to approved mares who have graded stakes earnings in the first two generations of her family
Hat Trick - $15,000 BreedSecure/$10,000 LFSN
Tapit - $300,000 (book full)
Tapizar - $15,000
To Honor and Serve - $20,000 BreedSecure/$15,000 LFSN