Key breeding numbers held-up well for 22/23 season

Key early figures show Australia’s harness racing breeding numbers have held-up well despite a number of perceived and real headwinds.

Challenging economic times, difficult seasonal issues and talk the new Stallion Registration Fees would see numbers plummet, have largely been unfounded on figures available so far.

Current total mares served numbers sit at 4552, which exceeds the 2019/20 season and could compare favourably with 2018/19 when all reporting is finalised.

The 2019/20 season is a solid benchmark given Australian harness racing – just like the nation’s wagering industry – enjoyed a “Covid spike” over the past two years.

“We’re tracking for a drop of about five per cent on mares served (4768 in 21/22), but we appreciate it is a different landscape now given all the headlines of economic uncertainty and well documented cost of living pressures.

“We are coming off two years of good and unexpected growth, so with this normalisation, we’re back to the pre-Covid numbers.

Kelly said the figures available showed HRA would collect over $900,000 in Stallion Registration Fees, which helps fund the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1 million TAB Eureka to be run for the first time at Menangle on September 2.

“This is right in line with initial projections,” he said.

Some of the key take outs so far include:

• Cobbitty Equine has enjoyed its biggest season yet with 807 services, led by 145 for King Of Swing’s first season, 142 for Huntsville, 133 for For A Reason and 107 for McWicked.
• Four of Alabar Bloodstock’s stallions had close to full books: Captain Crunch (149), Art Major (147), Rock N Roll Heaven (146) and Always B Miki (140), while former glamour pacer Ride High served 96 mares in his first season.
• Stay Hungry served 149 mares via frozen semen for Empire Stallions, while Captaintrecherous covered 79 mares.
• Medowie Lodge enjoyed a 15 per cent jump in stallion bookings, led by former superstar NSW pacer Tiger Tara (93).
• Wingate Farm had pleasing results with two colonial sires: Tintin In America (76 mares) and Be Happy Mach (33).
• Poster Boy served 140 mares for Llowalong Farms, while Soho Tribeca also served 99.
• Somerset Farms’ A Rocknroll Dance led all Queensland sires with 63 services.
• Allwood Studs’ Fly Like A Eagle was the most popular in WA, serving 82 mares.

Final breeding figures are not yet available with as many as 11 stallions not yet registered for the season.

From Harness Racing Australia