During the same period of 2021, the organization reported 27,829 mares bred. This year’s number represents a decline of about 2.4 percent.

RMB statistics for all reported stallions in 2022 are available through the Fact Book section of The Jockey Club’s website at jockeyclub.com.

Kentucky traditionally leads North America in Thoroughbred breeding activity. During 2022, Kentucky’s 196 reported stallions covered 16,689 mares, or 61.4% of all of the mares reported bred in North America. The number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions decreased 0.2% compared with the 16,727 reported at this time last year.

Of the top 10 states and provinces by number of mares reported bred in 2022, stallions in New York and Indiana covered more mares in 2022 than in 2021, as reported at this time last year.

The decline is more dramatic among Mid-Atlantic racing states, The Jockey Club numbers show, though some of that could be the vagaries of when reports are made.

According to the RMB,1,472 mares were bred in the Midlantic states of Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. That represented an 11.49% drop from the 1,663 mares bred in the same states at this time a year ago.

Only one of those states, West Virginia, saw an increase. A total of 305 mares have been reported as bred in West Virginia this year, up from 299 last year.

Both Maryland and Pennsylvania, the region’s top two breeding states, reported declines, with Pennsylvania’s especially dramatic. The Keystone State has reported 398 mares bred this year, down 24% from the 524 a year ago.

Maryland also saw fewer mares bred. The number of mares reported bred there dipped from 778 in 2021 to 741 this year, a drop of nearly five percent.

Young sire Blofeld, who had his first two stakes winners Saturday on Maryland Million day, bred 84 mares this year, most in the region.