The Korean Thoroughbred industry has built its foundation on American stock, as it is one of the other international jurisdictions with a predilection for dirt racing. While there may be a drop in the number of American-bred young horses racing in Korea in coming years, as that nation, like everywhere else, continues to struggle with the global COVID-19 pandemic, American stallions will continue to play a prominent role in the industry. That continued demand was seen with the recent purchase of multiple Grade 1 winner Dortmund to stand in South Korea beginning in 2021.

Changes rolled through the Thoroughbred bloodstock world in 2020. Some of those, were a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic and may be temporary. Others were seismic changes, as new industry rules, the deaths of major stallions and the emergence of others, and the loss of major farms will have an impact on the bedrock of the industry.

The world was saddened early in the year by the loss of Hall of Famer and breed-shaping sire A.P. Indy, who died at Lane’s End Farm on Feb. 21 at age 31. 

Multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Money will enter stud at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla., in 2021. The move brings a prominent representative of the nation's leading sire line, which is known for its strong juvenile runners, to Florida, a state with a racing and commercial marketplace built around young horses.

Clubhouse Ride has a smaller bench than many of California’s other leading sires, being bred to smaller books of mares. However, he has been consistently finishing among the state’s top 10 sires by earnings. He did so again in 2020 and is garnering notice because of his results.

Smiling Tiger made his name on the racetracks of California, becoming a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire. He has stood his entire stallion career in the Golden State and is becoming one of the leading sires for the region that made him.

Smiling Tiger, a 13-year-old son of Hold That Tiger, entered stud at Premier Equine Center in Oakdale in 2014. The following year, he moved to Harris Farms in Coalinga, and has resided at that notable facility ever since.

The well-traveled Heartwood is scheduled to begin a stud career at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif., early next year. By the time Heartwood reaches the central California farm, he could have a significantly enhanced race record.

The next few years will be a period of change for the massive racing and breeding stable of Paul and Zillah Reddam, who have one of the best known operations in modern California racing.

The transition centers on a revamped list of stallions for the upcoming breeding season. In May, the Reddams announced that Square Eddie, their top stallion at Ocean Breeze Ranch in Bonsall, Calif., had been retired from stud duty because of infertility.

The eyes of the racing world are on California this weekend as Santa Anita opens its winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26 with Grade 1 action. In conjunction, our annual special edition takes an in-depth look at the California stallion scene.

Learn more about the leading sires in the state, with a changing of the guard in process atop the leaderboard; meet the newcomers to the Golden State for 2021; find out how the late Unusual Heat's legacy is continuing; and more.

Southern Phantom will begin his stud career next year in his father’s home state of Virginia.

The uniquely marked son of Virginia-bred Bodemeister will stand at Mountain View Equine in Steels Tavern, according to Danny Caldwell, who owns Southern Phantom with his wife, Allison.

“We felt like it was a central location on the East Coast,” Danny Caldwell said. “We felt like that was the best place for him to go to breed different breeds of horses.”

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar, the sire of Eclipse Award champion Monomoy Girl, has died in a stable accident.

Gainesway Farm, which stood the 12-year-old Tapit horse, said Tapizar was euthanized after sustaining an injury in an accident in his stall in its quarantine barn. The stallion was scheduled to stand in Japan in 2021, with plans to arrive at Yushun Stallion Station on Hokkaido in mid-January.