Poll : Which more important?

radrider · Postby **radrider** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:16 am

When looking for a broodmare, what do you as breeders think is more important: pedigree or race record? There are tons of mares out there with pedigree that never make it to the track and still become good producers. Just a question for everyone out there, to get some opinions and discussion going.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:34 am

Both matter..........

Just because a mare didn't race doesn't mean she wasn't capable, but I wouldn't bred one. My mare's had to at least break there maiden. The pedigree matters to me just as much as their maiden win. If a mare made $100,000 or more at the track and I didn't like her pedigree you couldn't give her to me.

LB · Postby LB » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:46 am

Well of course they're both important, but if I could only pick one I'd definitely take a mare from a really good family over one with a modest race record. There are dozens of reasons why a potentially good filly might not have made it to the track, or might not have succeeded while there. Basically, I think a family that's proven it can produce top runners is more likely to continue to do so than a mare who was successful herself on the track but is the best her family can produce.

merse · Postby **merse** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:44 am

Obviously both are important but, to me, family matters most. I wish I could find the exact quote but I think Bob Baffert said something to the effect that "you can train them to get to the top of the stretch at the Derby but, once there, they start looking for family to push them home."

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:33 pm

peanut butter and jelly.. its just not the same unless you have both.

cng · Postby **cng** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:51 pm

conformation.

merse · Postby **merse** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:01 pm

peanut butter and jelly.. its just not the same unless you have both.

Good one, Crystal - I'll be using that one until way past people are tired of hearing me say it...

ASB · Postby **ASB** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:06 pm

Family.

Barn 31 T-breds · Postby **Barn 31 T-breds** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:34 pm

Here's an interesting article on the subject:

http://www.thoroughbredreview.com/MythoftheFamily.htm

radrider · Postby **radrider** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:08 am

I realize that most would choose both, but if you could only pick one which would be more important? I would choose pedigree

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:46 am

definitely family.

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:55 pm

merse- it's all yours

I've got hundreds of 'em..

vallygirl927 · Postby **vallygirl927** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:20 pm

That article was insightful. Racing performance proved to produce more winners than mares from good families.

vallygirl927 · Postby **vallygirl927** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:41 pm

That article was insightful. Racing performance proved to produce more winners than mares from good families.

ASB · Postby **ASB** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:07 pm

That study seems flawed. First off, they compared stakes mares to unplaced mares from good families. So in other words, the least talented representatives from the good families.

Also, which mares would see better stallions? Stakes winners or unplaced mares? Stakes winners of course. Better stallions equal better foals as a whole.

Add in the fact that the foals out of stakes winners probably had better care, conditioning, and connections, and it's a flawed study.