The Breeders' Cup dominates many owners' and trainers' calendars throughout the year, with many top runners being prepped all year for the biggest weekend of racing in the U.S. But Breeders' Cup also has a carryover influence on the Thoroughbred breeding calendar.......

Fasig-Tipton includes a useful tool to keep its November Selected catalog pages up to date. (Even if you're not impressed by that, take a look at the sample page I've cited -- think Sea the Stars' family and Rachel Alexandra's sire.)...

A few post-sale statistics now that the Keeneland September yearling auction has concluded. ...

I've always thought bidders had a prejudice against "named" yearlings at Thoroughbred sales. The numbers seem to indicate I'm wrong....

The superfilly's pedigree shows that 30% of ancestors in her first four generation are Rasmussen Factor matings....

Getting back to basics: What is the Average Earnings Index?...

I'm starting out my rant-and-rave session (and my second year of writing The Five-Cross Files) by censuring Thoroughbred industry participants for refusing to embrace the types of technology that could revamp our sport....

A couple of days ago we looked at how much influence Bold Ruler has had on Thoroughbred racing's top synthetic sires. So the question now is: are his bloodlines less present in poorer-performing all-weather studs?...

It's no secret that progeny of Bold Ruler-line stallions have enjoyed success on synthetic racing surfaces. As all-weather tracks continue to flourish, let's take a look at some top synthetic sires to see how much influence they have from Bold Ruler and the larger Nasrullah line....

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....

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 ???...

Are these 10 stallions the Princequillos and Deputy Ministers and Blue Larkspurs of tomorrow? A look at emerging broodmare sires....

Seven sires made the cut: they are clear leaders on the all-weather racetracks. Who made the list -- and just as important, who didn't?!?...

The data are clear: certain qualities or circumstances are favored in the yearling sales ring. Here are nine factors that were markers for success at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale....

The annual report of live foals reveals some interesting shifts in the Thoroughbred breeding industry....

Some of the secrets revealed in A Guide to Buying Thoroughbreds at the Keeneland September Sale are tips on how to read what the sales catalog page really says ...why timing can be everything ... who should be on your team of advisors ... and how you can compare the offerings hip-by-hip to determine your top picks....

Reactions to the Blood-Horse report on the weakening of the Thoroughbred....

Six free tools that can help your breeding program....

At the Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale, buyers wanted the first foals from new stallions, but not necessarily the first foals from new broodmares. And naming a yearling before the sale just might cost you....

Six stallions made the cut and proved themselves the best value for breeders looking to keep and race their foals....

Last week, I talked about a few of my favorite pedigrees in the Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training. For anyone interested in that sale (or just fascinated by sire lists and anything data-related), The Blood-Horse is offering a free download of the Data Digest for this sale. ...

The Blood-Horse Auctions Data Digest comes out about a week before major sales and gives buyers useful information about the horses being sold. It includes lists of sires represented in the sale, plus broodmare sires, leading consignors, breeders, and buyers, and other important statistical charts. For 2YOIT sales, there's also a chart of the official work times for each hip, and a bonus chart of TrueNicks "A++" and "A+" rated hips....