Quote:
Originally Posted by lamboguy
most people bring their mares around the middle of March.
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They bring as early as they can. The maiden mares, barren mares, and early foaling mares will be there as soon as the doors open.
All breed at first opportunity (not counting foal heats, which most stud farms won't accept) because it gives them longer if they don't get in foal (to return a time or two to try again).
Most all the mare owners that were planning on going to Gunrunner will not accept him retiring in mid-April. They will go elsewhere. The only mares he'd get that way are those who don't plan on being able to get a first cover until after that time anyway, and those would likely be last minute contracts because they'd have to bank now that he's not shooting blanks instead of knowing he's good to go when he does retire in mid-April.
It is a very bad way to start off his breeding career. They need the huge book to be competitive these days. This would cut his book in half. It ain't happening. If they change their mind about retiring, then he'll race out the year, not retire in mid-April, and have to appease a lot of people who signed contracts to breed to him.