Bucking a national trend, Indiana was one of a few states that had an increase in mares bred in 2022, showing a response to a robust statebred program that has contributed major economic activity to the state. According to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred released last fall, of the top 10 states and provinces by the number of mares reported bred in 2022, only New York and Indiana had more mares bred than the prior year. In Indiana, 39 stallions covered 496 reported mares, ranking the state eighth by number of mares bred. The prior year, 45 stallions covered 475 mares. A recent economic impact analysis conducted by Purdue University showed that the Indiana horse racing industry – encompassing Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse activity – is just shy of $2 billion in economic impact to the state. The report showed that from 2007-20, there has been a 59 percent increase in horses owned, trained, or bred in the state, with resulting increases to Indiana-owned property and equipment. “We have seen a lot of new farm development in recent years, especially around Horseshoe Indianapolis,” Joe Davis, president of the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said in a press release. “This survey solidifies what we expected to see based on our growing numbers in racing and breeding operations. Plus, these facilities are directly impacting their local communities by hiring additional work force, purchasing supplies, and bringing tax dollars to the state.” The busiest stallions in Indiana in 2022, according to The Jockey Club’s statistics, were the state’s leading sire, Harry’s Holiday, who covered 47 mares; and Sombeyay, who covered 35 mares. The latter was a new stallion in the state for 2022. “Our annual fall sale has shown significant increases over the past few years, and the number of new owners is growing immensely,” said Tom Mosley, president of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. “We are adding new stallions and broodmares to our program each year, which has elevated the quality of our breeding program. It’s exciting to see this surge of interest in our business.” Harry’s Holiday edges Unbridled Express In one of the closer in-state races in the nation, Breakway Farm’s Harry’s Holiday edged Swifty Farms’ perennial leader Unbridled Express to take over as Indiana’s top stallion by earnings. Both Harry’s Holiday and Unbridled Express – who had led Indiana’s sire list for three straight years – had 20 winners in 2022. Harry’s Holiday’s progeny banked $1,034,401 on the season – edging Unbridled Express, at $1,032,814 by $1,587. Graded stakes-placed Harry’s Holiday stood his initial season at Justice Farms in Kentucky before moving north, first to Southern Indiana Equine and later to Breakway. He brought a stellar pedigree to the stallion ranks, being by Harlan’s Holiday and out of Daisy Mason, a daughter of Broodmare of the Year Leslie’s Lady. The nation’s four-time reigning leading sire, Into Mischief, is by Harlan’s Holiday and out of Leslie’s Lady, a blue hen who also produced Hall of Fame racemare Beholder and Breeders’ Cup winner and solid young sire Mendelssohn.