Songster to go back in training

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:50 pm

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2008/March/14/Grade-2-winner-Songster-to-return-to-racing.aspx

AscotStud · Postby **AscotStud** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:06 pm

I heard he was not stopping them about a week ago...but 0 for 60 is about as infertile as they come.

Archy · Postby **Archy** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:28 pm

There seem to be more and more infertile/sub-fertile stallions. What's going on?

Tesio · Postby **Tesio** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:26 pm

I've heard many people attribute the increase in infertility to steroid use. Sounds reasonable enough to me.

CurrentlyRed · Postby **CurrentlyRed** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:39 am

Wishing him safe trips on the track - last year was awful for stallions sent back to race from failed stud duty, so I cringe when I see news like this.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:54 am

I was thinking exactly the same thing as Currently Red. I don't think this is good for Songster.

How did it happen that he got no mares in foal? Don't stallions have to undergo a fertility test prior to first beginning to cover mares that are paying customers?

nferro9925 · Postby **nferro9925** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:01 am

I wish him a safe return.

I also agree with Tesio that steroids may play a big part in sub-fertile or
fertile stallions and/or mares.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:09 am

You would think that fertility tests would be performed prior to buying the horse for stud duty.. or at least booking mares. In the old days, they actually did TEST breedings.

Steroids can kill fertility, as can high fevers.

Sunday Silence · Postby **Sunday Silence** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:55 pm

A rare registered black, good at running, sent to a top farm and infertile. Why of all the horses did it have to be him? I was looking forward to some black babies from him.

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:05 pm

I too was looking forward to some more black horses from him...although even passing it on seems rare!
As for why they didn't test him first, I think they said it was "undiagnosed"...so maybe they did and looked like things were OK under the microscope? Which doesn't mean that conception will be able to take place, I guess. I don't know.
I basically find out if I'm fertile Tuesday morning. :shock:

Wish me luck, I don't wanna go back to the track! :cry:

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:49 pm

That's what I was thinking, steroids. Are there any cases of subfertile stallions in his pedigree? I know that sounds like a goofy question, but maybe there could be something genetically amiss too. Hopefully he can get his mind back onto training and wow us some more on the track.

Yeah, I thought they did test breedings too. Or do they use mares that have had their ovaries removed and just get shot up hormones to make them go into heat (and thus not worry about pregnancy)?

Gerry · Postby **Gerry** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:14 pm

While I agree it seems strange that he didnt get at least one mare infoal, doesnt anyone else think that only 1 month into the season breeding 60 mares is alittle excessive? I still believe books should be severely limited but the almighty dollar will never allow that to happen. 50 in a crop is plenty.

Sunday Silence · Postby **Sunday Silence** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:29 pm

I thought it was excessive as well. Does anyone know what his personality was like?

Karie · Postby **Karie** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:18 pm

all I could think about was how mad I would be if I had bred a mare to him... at least 18 days of board ... the vet checks before she is bred, and then the ultrasound after.... and the ride to the shed! I sure hope what ever stallion they decide to re breed to (if at Darley) they get some $$$ knocked off the price.
I am a small breeder and even that bit of wasted money is a lot to me!

AscotStud · Postby **AscotStud** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:01 pm

Horses usually shouldn't start covering 2 or 3 times a day for the first couple of weeks at least. But the baby mills don't seem to care these days. Covering as many as he did should have had a little bit of an affect on him, but not enough to make him go 0 fer.