retired mare breeding

randy · retired mare breeding

thought i'd share this as i was reading the instructions on retired mare breeding i caught this note -

Note: The historic grade of the mare is not directly factored into the ability of the of the offspring. The grade is a reflection of the mare’s on track performance and is useful as a searching tool but may not reflect the mare’s actual ability. If a mare is retired before being given the opportunity to run in a graded stakes, for example, she may have been a better racehorse than this grade indicates. It is the mare’s actual ability that is a factor in the ability of the offspring.

i wasn't interpreting the Mare Grade system quite right, seemed to me if you made the Grade then you would be of that quality, but there's actually an ability # that determines the mares breeding potential

dundey

Yeah, I'm not sure how to interpret that Randy.

I always thought and still do, that if the grade attained was high, say A or B then that did reflect the mares quality.
However lower grades may not have yet reached their potential when retired.

Thats my take at least. But of course there are other factors at play. I have several very good offspring from low quality mare as well as several busts from higher quality ones (based on race record).

What does seem to hold true, is the fact that a producing mare seems to be good with most of her offspring.

hawkz

i know this may sound vague but i think what he is saying is it the offspring may take the mare potential or it may take on the sires atributes you just never know i dont think its a constant by if the graded mare is well bred i think you have greater chance the offspring will have her ability. I think it say that somewhere in the breeding pages . i will look later

wenlock

I think the basic gist of the wording is pointed at the lower graded mares that retired early and didn't get a chance to reach their potential like Dundey touched on.

chuckrock

i have lived off of breeding to g and h rated mares that have only raced 3 or 4 times....especially the tabasco cat ones.

fabman

I go strictly for breeding. A high performing mare is nice but some are so-so bred and produce nothing. I'd rather take my chances on something well bred without regard to the class of the mare.