The Five-Cross Files

Female families… patterns of inbreeding… sire line nicks… what really influences the strength of a Thoroughbred pedigree? How do conformation and class factor in? The Five-Cross Files explores bloodlines old and new, analyzes Thoroughbred pedigrees, tests breeding tools, and simplifies the science (and art) of successful Thoroughbred breeding.

A Morning at the Gallops

Training styles differ throughout the world -- the uphill gallops and large strings of U.K. trainers are a fascinating difference from conventional methods in the U.S.... Read More

Thoroughbred Pedigree in the News -- BRASS HAT

Brass Hat attempts a comeback. The 8-year-old son of Prized has been compared to the legendary John Henry -- both are grade I winning geldings who put in long careers, after all. But the two share more than that, and we look back to the damsire of two Triple Crown winners to find the connection.... Read More

6 Noteworthy Third-Crop Sires

The third-crop season can be a make-or-break year for stallions, who have to prove that they can get consistently good progeny even when mare quality and quantity tend to drop off. Six of the entering sires of 2003 deserve some attention for not only holding steady, but actually improving over their 2007 progeny results.... Read More

Modern Thoroughbred Sire Lines

If Thoroughbred pedigree evaluation had been taught in elementary school, the "three foundation sires" would be as well-known to every student as "I before E except after C" and George Washington's cherry tree episode. The Godolphin Barb, Byerley Turk, and Darley Arabian male lines still exist -- but the distribution isn't equitable. A quick review.... Read More

Thoroughbred Horse Names

Secretariat wasn't the first choice of names for the Triple Crown champ. In fact, it wasn't one of the first FIVE names submitted to The Jockey Club. From Secretariat to Smarty Jones, let's look at how racehorses have been given names over the years.... Read More

Hard Spun Wins With Breeders

Hard Spun wins a few titles in the breeding shed. I also see some similarities between the son of Danzig and other Thoroughbred sires Point Given and ... Big Brown ???... Read More

$14,000 is Today's Price for a Nice Thoroughbred Mare

Grade III-placed winner of over $200,000, in foal to a nice $15,000 sire. A proven producer... by a solid sire... out of a successful black type family. The type of mare many breeders aspire to add to their broodmare herd. Only 10 years old, and a real looker, to boot. Her low bid price did not reflect her true value.... Read More

Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Record-holding earner CURLIN is one of the top Thoroughbred stallion prospects in America. One broodmare sire line stands out as a great match for the seven-time grade I winner.... Read More

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