With the inaugural Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, presented by Godolphin, drawing closer, and with several of the finalists in the news for their work with major horses recently, Godolphin has rolled out a series of videos for a behind-the-scenes look at the finalists at work.

European champion Air Force Blue has been retired from racing and will begin his stallion career at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., for a fee to be announced later.

The 3-year-old son of War Front finished his ontrack career with four wins in nine starts for earnings of $844,919. He is owned by the Coolmore partnership and trained by Aidan O’Brien.

He was named Europe’s champion 2-year-old male in 2015 after winning the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and Phoenix Stakes in Ireland and the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes in England.

Multiple Grade 3 winner Gottcha Gold has been sold to stand at Peaceful Valley Farms in Didsbury, Alberta, for the 2017 breeding season for an advertised fee of $2,500 Canadian.

The 13-year-old son of Coronado’s Quest previously stood at Stride Away Thoroughbreds in British Columbia. He was the province’s leading sire by progeny earnings in 2014.

The natural order of the Thoroughbred marketplace dictates that leading sires become leading commercial sires. Buyers at yearling sales, first and foremost, are looking for top racehorses, and sires at or near the top of the General Sire List have proven their ability to produce those horses. The biggest buyers, however, also are looking for top racehorses with what are loosely deemed “stallion pedigrees,” and current fashion can influence those purchases almost as much as pure racetrack results.

Louisiana-bred legend Star Guitar was represented by his first winner on Saturday night when Senor Guitar swept five wide to win a maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs as the longest price on the board.

Star Guitar, an 11-year-old son of Quiet American, stands at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, La., for an advertised fee of $4,000. He has 41 foals in his first crop, with two starters to date, and 39 foals in his second crop.

Texas Bling, who pulled a 128-1 upset at Remington Park in 2012 when he won the $300,000 Springboard Mile over eventual champion Will Take Charge, has been retired, said trainer Danele Durham. The horse will enter stud next year at Brazos Reproduction Center in Weatherford, Texas.

Texas Bling, a 6-year-old by Too Much Bling, retires with earnings of $406,072. He won consecutive runnings of the Assault Stakes at Lone Star Park in 2014 and 2015 and made his last start in the race this year, finishing fourth July 9.

The Jockey Club has released statistics for the 2015 breeding season and 2016 foaling year, showing nearly even statistics as compared to last year at this time.

The Jockey Club reports that 1,923 stallions covered 36,964 mares in North America during 2015, according to statistics compiled through Sept. 15. These have resulted in 21,991 live foals of 2016 being reported, a figure The Jockey Club estimates to be approximately 90 percent complete. In addition, 2,457 no foal reports have been received.

Last year's champion turf male Big Blue Kitten, winless this year, has been retired and will take up stud duties in 2017 at Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm.

The 8-year-old son of Kitten's Joy concludes his career with a record of 33-14-8-5 and earnings of $2,983,350. He spent the majority of his career racing in the colors of breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey, then made three starts this year for Calumet, which had earlier acquired his stallion rights. He was trained throughout his career by Chad Brown.

Expectations can be deadly – especially when combined with a high price tag.

When Fusaichi Pegasus went to stud in 2001, his $100,000 initial stud fee made it imperative that he sire a string of high-class horses right from the get-go. That did not happen, and when his progeny developed a reputation for having inherited their sire’s combustible temperament, buyers and breeders quickly soured on the 2000 Kentucky Derby winner.

Grade 1 winner Bobby’s Kitten will become the first son of Kitten’s Joy to stand in Europe, as it was recently announced that the 5-year-old horse has been retired to Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, England, for the 2017 season.