Why do horse breeders pay so much money to have their horse bred with a sire that has won the kentucky derby?

Question

websites help!

Answer 1

Actually, Storm Cat's stud fee was reduced to $300,000 for 2008. Storm Cat and AP Indy have the highest stud fees in the US currently. I suspect the drop is because Storm Cat has been dropping in the sire rankings of winning offspring, possibly due to his age (he is 24 years old). See here: http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp...

But yes, the Kentucky Derby is certainly the most prestigious race in the US and is known world wide. People choose a stallion for their mare that has a proven track record and winning prestigious races, especially the Derby, is a good start. The hope is that the same genes that made the sire fast enough to win will increase the chance that the offspring will be fast and win.

Answer 2

The theory is that if the horse has shown ability in winning a big race like the Kentucky Derby then he might pass the ability on to his progeny.

The race record is not the only factor though, as fewer than 1 in 10 new stallions will ever go on to be any good as sires.  The stallion needs to prove that he can get good horses, and very early on.  If a new stallion has not sired a decent runner by the time his first 3 year olds hit the racecourse he tends to be written off.  This may not be fair, but it is a fact - these days breeders are quick to latch on to unproven young sires in the hope that they might get lucky.

Young stallions should have their books (numbers of mares covered) restricted to, say 70, mares for their first 3 seasons at stud, that way if he turns out to be no good we will not have a market flooded with useless horses as is the case at the moment.

Answer 3

horse breeders figure that they will have a better horse by using a kentucky derby winner than winners of most other races, for the breedrs price range.  :)

Answer 4

both of the answers have the right idea...  people pay a lot to breed with horses who have won important races because of the idea that one of those talented horses is more likely to produce talented offspring than a random horse who didn't win anything.  Throughout history we've tried to breed for speed... we created the thoroughbred as a light agile horse who would have excessive speed to run in races.  We've tried to make horses faster and faster.  We're still trying to do the same thing...  we want to create a horse that's going to win in every race it ever runs.  And the justification for spending all that money is that you'll make it back when you either sell or race the baby.

Answer 5

Not always true, Silver Charm, Charismatic, Mornachos, Real Quiet all win the derby and their stud fee is not high. Their fee is below 30k compare to other unproven horse. If the Offspring of the sire win a lot of stake or grade races, then the sire stud will increase over time. Just like Storm Cat, his first stud fee is very low, but now is one of the highest in the USA. Some horse with good pedigree will command more stud fee at the beginning, but his offspring don't do well. His fee will go down such as Fusaichi Pegasus start at over 125k now down to 50k.

Answer 6

As for AP Indy, he should bring in a hefty stud fee. With Daddy Seattle Slew, and a Granddad in Secretariat, how could one go wrong. . .

Does anyone remember that he sired Rags to Riches. .

Answer 7

Storm Cat never won the Derby, but commands the highest stud fee ($500K).

Answer 8

Charles Darwin: Select breeding

Answer 9

because they are trying to have a derby winner of their own.....