Abbaye winner Glass Slippers a boon for In Reality / Man o' War sire line

The ‘narrowing of the diversity of the thoroughbred gene pool’ has been cited by the American Jockey Club as a primary factor behind their plans to consider imposing a restriction on stallion books.

Their controversial announcement, made on the eve of the Keeneland September Sale, has divided opinion among breeders and American stallion farms, with neither side being short of a strong word or two. It is, after all, a free market, but then such market behaviour also has its part to play in the manner in which the industry can be held hostage to commercial fashion.

Concern for the future of the thoroughbred gene pool was an interesting card for the Jockey Club to play. And regardless of what the opposing sides feel, there is some legitimacy to the reasoning given how heavily the American industry today relies on the influences of Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector.