Breeding

Originally Posted by jpops757

I understand about the birthday. What im asking is when is the latest a top operation will consider a top mare give birth or just wait for a cover to produce a birth in the first 1/3 of the year? Would the stud fee be discounted for a cover rusulting in a birthing in the last half of the year?

July is the absolute latest a top outfit will breed. If a mare is covered in July then the baby will be born in June or maybe in late May. If you look at past Ky Derby winners, the majority are born in March/April. This is why you will see tons of fillies racing in the summer while in foal. Now wagering on a horse that is in foal is not a bad angle at all. Also you will see some of the top fillies retiring in March/April in order to get them into the shed in time to be covered.