Cape Blanco was the busiest stallion in North America this year covering 220 mares at Coolmore Stud’s Ashford base in Kentucky.  He is currently serving his first southern season at Cambridge Stud in NZ.

Cape Blanco (Galileo) was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile in 2009 and returned at three to clinch the Irish Derby – Irish Champion Stakes double in 2010 before crossing the Atlantic last year.  He bowed out in a blaze of glory winning the Man o’ War Stakes, Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch Classic.

Rounding out the top five stallions in North America were Scat Daddy (217), Kitten’s Joy (213), Uncle Mo (211) and Wilburn (169).

Breeding activity in North America steadied in 2012 according the annual report released by the Jockey Club this week.  A total of 35,591 mares were covered earlier this year, down 3% from 2011.  It’s the first time since 2008 that the industry has not seen a double-digit decline but is still well below the 59,434 mares covered in the 2006.

The Jockey Club reported that 1,861 stallions covered mares this year which is 3.8% less than 2011.  Those figures were based in returns as at October 14 and, according to historical trends, an additional 3,500 to 4,500 mares bred during the 2012 have yet to be processed.

The number of stallions covering 100 or more mares increased from 84 in 2011 to 87 in 2012.  These stallions accounted for 32% of all mares bred in 2012.

Kentucky traditionally leads North America and the Blue Grass State reported 224 stallions covered 15,361 mares, or 43% of all of the mares bred in North America.