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Odds On Racing's

Horse of the Month
For May 2005


The Standardbred Stallion

The Stallion is one of the most prized possessions of any breeding farm.  In most--but not all cases--harness racing's top stallions were at the top of their game as outstanding racehorses.  Some are retired after their three-year-old seasons, and others are given a chance to race in some of North America and the world's top aged events.

At most Standardbred breeding farms, the actual breeding or AI (artificial insemination) is carried out on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  at some of the largest breeding facilities, as many as 40 or more mares will be bred on these days from January through May annually.  Most, however, are bred between February through the end of April.

Unlike in thoroughbred racing, where mating is done primarily by live cover (no artificial insemination), almost all breeding at Standardbred farms occurs through AI.  Since there is a great deal of money at stake for both the mare, the stallion and the potential foal, AI is considered to be the safest option for all parties invovled in the breeding process.

Artificial insemination invovled placing the collected semen directly into the mare, without the natural mating process.  The tricky part can often be collecting the semen. Breeding farms are equipped with a "Phantom Mare," usually a padded, somewhat horse-shaped device that includes an artifical vagina (AV). 
Artsplacehedshot

        The great pacing stallion Artsplace

SuperBowlHedShot
The mighty trotting stallion Super Bowl

The stallion is brought into the breeding room, and is allowed to get close to and sniff a "teaser" mare---a mare who is there simply to entice the stallion to mount the Phantom Mare.

Some stallions seem to take immediately to the Phantom Mare, while other studs are extremely shy, and may require numerous attempts before they feel comfortable with the process.  Stallions who have been at a particular farm for many years are usually very professional about their business and often mount the Phantom Mare without much provication.
When the stallions are not involved in the process of breeding, they pretty much lead a charmed life, spending their mornings and afternoons in their paddocks or resting comfortably in their stalls.  Young stallions often times have limited books for their first season at stud, but then those books are increased as the horse ages.

                           Leading North American Sires--Through May 6, 2005
All Age Pacing Sire Statistics                             All Age Trotting Sire Statistics
Sire                      Starters      Earnings             Sire                    Starters      Earnings
Camluck                  395           $3,090,762             Donerail                141            $998,599
Cambest                  348           $3,086,900             Balanced Image     151             $956,203
Artsplace                 303           $2,833,571             Malabar Man          123             $810,085
Western  Hanover     320          $2,790,813              Muscles Yankee     110             $779,338
Life Sign                   272          $2,663,322              Earl                      105             $761,048
Jenna's  Beach Boy   282          $2,542,786              SJ's Photo             146             $756,525
Artiscape                  190         $2,230,427               Lindy Lane             146            $709,381
Cam's Card Shark     282         $2,133,419               Striking Sahbra      140           $693,353
Sportsmaster             275         $1,958,429              Yankee Glide          91            $587,082
Keystone Raider        276          $1,647,309              Armbro Laser          62           $533,319
Run The Table           283          $1,506,998              Mr Lavec                127          $517,016
Albert Albert              244          $1,480,889              Pine Chip                87          $511,850
Falcon Seelster          185          $1,345,198              Garland Lobell         73          $472,169   
The Panderosa           174         $1,249,850               Conway Hall            87          $442,397
Rustler Hanover         203         $1,214,523                Inquirer                 90          $425,289
Jate Lobell                 183          $1,094,363               American Winner     54          $405,841
In The Pocket            147          $1,091,881               Cumin                    43          $405,050
Nobleland Sam          238          $1,090,182               Wesgate Crown       74          $393,582
Cole Muffler              136          $1,049,092               Sierra Kosmos         76          $386,767
No Nukes                  208           $1,025,949              King Conch            102          $376,515



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