Vinery slices multiple stallion fees for 2009

Vinery in Kentucky has reduced the stud fee for More Than Ready by $15,000 and will stand the 11-year-old son of Southern Halo for $45,000 in 2009, the farm said in a release.

The reduction is part of a wide repricing in stud fees for the vast majority of the horses Vinery will stand in Kentucky and Florida this year. Of the 14 horses Vinery will stand, 11 had their fees cut for 2009.

In general, most Thoroughbred auctions have been down this year, and economic conditions in the horse racing industry continue to decline in step with the overall economy. In addition, the Jockey Club announced earlier this year that the foal crop for 2009 is expected to be down 3.3 percent, indicating that demand for stud fees is slackening.

In addition to More Than Ready, six other horses at Vinery's Kentucky Farm had their fees cut for next year: Posse will stand for $20,000, down from $30,000; Limehouse will stand for $10,000, down from $15,000; Silver Train, $17,500, from $25,000; Purge, $12,500, from $20,000; Stormello, $7,500, from $15,000; and Yonaguska, $5,000, from $10,000. Pure Prize's stud fee will remain at $12,500, while the fee for Repent will rise from $5,000 to $7,500.

At Vinery in Florida, Congrats will stand for $10,000 this year, down from $12,500; Pomeroy will stand for $8,000, down from $10,000; Peace Rules will stand for $7,500, down from $12,500; and Alke will stand for $3,000, down from $4,000. D'wildcat's fee will remain at $6,500.

At Millennium Farms in Kentucky, owner Rosendo Parra announced that the farm has reduced the fee for Student Council to $17,500. The farm had announced that the fee would be $20,000 shortly before Student Council's final start, which came in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 25. Student Council finished 11th of 12 in that race.

Unlike at Vinery, Millennium is not reducing the fees for its other stallions. Even the Score will stand for $7,500, identical to last year; Will He Shine will remain at $6,500; and Shaniko and Woke Up Dreamin will remain at $5,000. Scrimshaw will stand for $5,000, up from $3,500.

At Richland Hills Farm in Kentucky, Purim will stand for $10,000, identical to last year; Star Dabbler will remain at $7,500, and Storm Surge will stand for $5,000, down from $7,500. Richland Hills's new stallion, Sightseeing, will stand for $7,500, the farm said, and Cougar Cat will stand for $5,000. Cougar Cat had a private fee last year.

* Big Brown, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, will be displayed to central Kentucky breeders and media members on Wednesday at Three Chimneys Farm, where he will stand in 2009. Big Brown's stud fee has been set at $65,000.