The Weatherbys Return of Mares, through Oct. 20, was published on Thursday. A total of 12,920 live foals were registered so far in The General Stud Book. In 2020 the number was 12,778 and in 2019 13,443 were registered. Of the 12,920 foals, 4,282 (+1%) are registered with the GB suffix and 8,638 (+1%) in Ireland. In 2020 those numbers were 4,236 (GB) and 8,542 (Ire), while two years ago the number of registered foals stood at 4,655 (GB) and 8,788 (Ire).
Currently there are 22,720 broodmares at stud, an increase of 358 from 2020's 22,362. There were 22,919 broodmares in 2019. Of these 22,720 broodmares, 2,949 were not covered, a higher number than 2,667 in 2020 and 2,927 in 2019. Among those not covered, the mares were split with 1,293 (GB) and 1,656 in Ireland. There were also 6,016 no returns and 355 mares were barren.
In Britain, the number of stallions increased by 10 from 149 in 2020 to 159. In Ireland, the number of stallions declined by one from 232 in 2020. National Hunt stallions dominated by number of mares bred with Sea The Stars (Ire)'s Affinisea (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire) on top with 324. Close behind him was Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at 312 and Maxios (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) at 309. Rounding out the top four was Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at 302. The busiest Flat stallion in 2021 was Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who sired a record 56 first-crop 2-year-old winners. The Tally-Ho resident, who made a bright start to his stud career, covered 292 mares.
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