Retiring mares - opinions needed

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Ali Sills
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Joined: 13 years ago

Retiring mares - opinions needed

Post by Ali Sills »

I have a slew of 4YO Arabians and Standardbred mares who are allowance peak gallopers who have been really solid on the track this year, winning or top placements in allowance or NW races consistently. My question for you - when do you or what makes you retire a mare? I was intending to retire this group at the end of the year, but they are doing so well on the track, I'm considering hanging onto them in my racing barn but I've also been told they start to go down hill at 4-5 and they are PEAK. I already have 200+ foals on the ground this year, so I'm not dying for more broodmares. What's the best course of action here?
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Darcy McBride
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Re: Retiring mares - opinions needed

Post by Darcy McBride »

Hey, Ali. If you are not in a hurry to breed this group, run them next year. If any of them start dropping off in form, you can retire then. That's my two cents worth!
DM: AMERICATION MISCHIEF & JAMBOREE
TM: NIGHTWATCH
DS: SINISTER MISTER/THE HELLHOUND/DARKANDSTORMYNIGHT
AWR: TUSCANY GOLD
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Michael Looker
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Re: Retiring mares - opinions needed

Post by Michael Looker »

If they're making money and you're enjoying running them, run them. They won't ALL see their form fall off a cliff when they turn 5 and, while you might kick yourself for not retiring the ones that do, you've said yourself you're not desperate for any more broodmares.

I'm no expert on Arabians but, given that they don't start racing until they're 3, do they really see much of a drop in form at 5?
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Jo Ferris
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Re: Retiring mares - opinions needed

Post by Jo Ferris »

Personally, I of course have a VERY small racing barn and am restructuring my stable to mostly breeding and selling foals, but I really only continue to run my stakes horses or those that aren't peak that may have potential to be stakes level horses.

Overall though, general advice, if you're enjoying racing them and aren't wanting/needing more broodmares, then run them another year.
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Money Run Low - 7.5k
Cass Ole - 5k
Mugello - 5k
All I'll Praise - 5k
Zandvoort - 10k

Paint:
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One In The Woods - 5k
We Can Be Heros - 5k
FLD Eclipse - 3.5k
Scooter - 3.5k
Ali Sills
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Re: Retiring mares - opinions needed

Post by Ali Sills »

Thank you all for your thoughts! I appreciate it
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