Bargains are not limited to the Boxing Day Sales, with Australian breeders able to bag a bargain between now and 31 January 2015 thanks to stallion owners and Studs offering heavily discounted service fees and special offers on 24 stallions.
This is the second year this incentive has been offered and although the foal figures from the 2013 Festive Season Programme are not yet finalised the feedback has been very encouraging.
Statistics reveal a continued decline in the number of live foals born in 2013/14 (4148) - some 320 less live foals than the previous season - so, an initiative to encourage mares to be bred until the end of January, discounted service fees on selected stallions in the post-Christmas period is another strategy designed to address the progressive decline in the number of Standardbred foals bred in Australia.
An interesting statistical review of foal dates shows no evidence that an early foal has an advantage over late foals (defined as born between December and February). The comparative statistics for early versus late foals make interesting reading, particularly when acknowledging that most foals are bred for personal use and not commercial sale:
2013/14 season:
- 2yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter = 5.08
- 2yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter = 5.53
- 3yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter = 9.13
- 3yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter = 8.74
- 2yo born Sept - Nov % winners to starters = 33.79%
- 2yo born Dec - Feb % winners to starters = 28.14%
- 3yo born Sept - Nov % winners to starters = 47.01%
- 3yo born Dec - Feb % winners to starters = 45.61%
2012/13 season:
- 2yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter = 5.17
- 2yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter = 5.00
- 3yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter = 9.13
- 3yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter = 8.72
- 2yo born Sept - Nov % winners to starters = 31.34%
- 2yo born Dec - Feb % winners to starters = 32.93%
- 3yo born Sept - Nov % winners to starters = 46.53%
- 3yo born Dec - Feb % winners to starters = 44.58%
The full list of stallions being offered via the 'Festive Season Stallion Service Specials' promotion and participating Studs contact details are available here.
