The number of mares being bred is not only on a decline in Australia & New Zealand but also in harness racing’s heartland North America.
Recent statistics released by United States Trotting Assocation (USTA) conform what breeders’ associations across the world have been telling us for some time.
North Americian figures show a conditioned decline in the number of mares bred in 2015 the decline was 6.3% from 2014 and a whacking 27.7% from 2010.
Canada gained 12.9% from the 2014 level while US declined 10.9%.
Total numbers show 12,009 mares were bred in 2015 compared to 12,810 in 2014.
Five years ago in 2010 that number 16,612, down 4603 in just 5 years.
The biggest gain was Ontario in Canada up 365 from 2014 while US states New Jersey, Alberta and Delaware, home of the little Brown Jug, also had small increases.
However Ohio (down 255), Pennsylvania, New York (down 341), Indiana and Illinois all had declining numbers.
Ohio despite its decline of 255 mares bred retained the number one state/province ranking with 2339 mares bred (mainly due to their lucrative Sires Stakes program), ahead of Ontario with 2031 and Pennsylvania with 1931.
Source: USTA’s David Carr
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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