Category: Magical Matriarchs

Heralded matriarchs are the quintessential foundations for future generations. Much as we celebrate the stallions that father champions and sons that continue the male line, foundation mares are equally as important, just not as well publicised. However, the most successful breeders do place extreme importance in acquiring breeding stock descending from certain matriarchal families that have proven records of excellence.

Unraced female Thoroughbreds have historically had more value than their unraced male counterparts. In many cases throughout the Thoroughbred history of breeding, an unraced mare has produced champion offspring and became heralded matriarchs of prosperous families. There is no finer example of this than the great Windfields broodmare Sex Appeal. Bred in 1970 by Anne Forsyth in Kentucky, the chestnut

Blue Hen Mare is a frequently used title in breeding, but in reality the term should be sparsely used. A “Blue Hen” is an elite mare in producing top level stakes winners on multiple occasions. Juddmonte Farm has had a few such mares in their realm. Toussaud definitely qualifies as an elite “Blue Hen Mare”. She was a remarkable Thoroughbred.

Juddmonte Farm has become one of the leading breeders and owners in world racing. Prince Khalid Abdullah has funded and masterminded this very successful operation that has seen the likes of Danehill, Dancing Brave, Known Fact, Workforce, Empire Maker, Commander in Chief and the incomparable Frankel among the dozens upon dozens of world class horses bred and raced by this

There are many breeders who believe that excessive in breeding is detrimental to advancement of the breed. Out crosses and diversity are keys to advancing the breed. In the other corner many breeders believe that inbreeding is needed to keep certain lines vigorous and strong. As with so many examples of each breeding theory, there are successes and failures to

There is a phenomenon of incredible proportion currently happening in racing. The Epsom and Irish Derbies of 2016 were won by the Aga Khan’s brilliant colt Harzand, who is sired by Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars. The colts who finished second to Harzand, Idaho in the Irish Derby and U.S. Ranger in the Epsom Derby, are both sired by

In the world of Thoroughbred racing there have been certain individuals who have been so remarkable that they are remembered with great affection and awe. Numbered Account was a champion on the track, a producer of grade one stakes winners, and is a very influential mare in the pedigrees of some of today’s champions. She was also one of the

Many people in Thoroughbred breeding believe that pedigree is everything. While there have been many fashionably bred colts and fillies that did not live up to their exulted ancestors on the race track, some did become wonderful progenitors when sent to a breeding career. Courtly Dee is a prime example of this. Bred in 1968 by Donald Unger, Courtly Dee

Foundation broodmares have a reverent mystique. The most acclaimed have founded families of champions and top sires and dams for many breeders fortunate enough to acquire members of these elite Thoroughbred families. These families have had considerable influence on Thoroughbred breeding, producing top class stakes winners regularly from generation to generation. In the case of the great broodmare Feola, the