THE EVER-SHRINKING FOAL CROP

(Courtesy of Lambholm South)

The Jockey Club is projecting a 2012 North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 24,700, a decline of 8.5% from the estimate of 27,000 registered foals for 2011.

The foal crop projection, traditionally announced in mid-August, is computed by using Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) received to date for the 2011 breeding season. RMBs are to be filed by August 1 of each breeding season.

The 2012 foal crop is projected to be the smallest foal crop since 1971, when 24,301 foals were registered.

Additional foal crop information is available in The Jockey Club’s Online Fact Book.