Genetic Gems
“Genetic Gem” is my personal designation for a broodmare who has wielded exceptional influence on the Thoroughbred over a period of at least five generations. This influence may be wielded through outstanding stallion sons and grandsons and through daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters who have succeeded in establishing distinct branches of the mare’s family. In accordance with the theme of American Classic Pedigrees, most of my “Genetic Gems” are mares who were based in North or South America, although exceptions are possible for mares based elsewhere whose descendants were especially significant in the Americas.
As mares normally produce one foal per year and less than twenty over a lifetime, access to mares from top lineages is much more limited than access to good stallions, who may sire over two hundred foals in a single year. Yet, a mare contributes 50 percent of her foal’s genetics as well as providing the foal’s prenatal environment, early diet, and initial socialization. Thus, identification and retention of the best female strains are crucial to a breeder’s long-term success. It is no coincidence that most of the great breeders of history took great care in assembling their broodmare bands, regularly weeded out and sold subpar animals, and sought out access to fine stallions whose characteristics would complement the known conformation, temperament, and performance tendencies of their matriarchs and their daughters. The "Genetic Gems" concept represents an attempt to recognize those exceptional matrons whose families have kept delivering the goods rather than petering out within a couple of generations.
It should be noted that not every mare descended in tail-female from a "Genetic Gem" is worth persevering with; even the best families have weak branches that never produce anything worthwhile. The designation of "Genetic Gem" recognizes sustained overall excellence but is no guarantee of any given individual's performance as a racer or as breeding stock.
My criteria for designation of a mare as a "Genetic Gem" are as follow:
Naturally, there is substantial overlap between “Genetic Gems” and outstanding broodmares recognized by other leading pedigree analysts, such as Ellen Parker’s Reines-de-Course, John Sparkman’s “Foundation Mares,” and Edward Bowen’s “Matriarchs.” None of my opinions as to whether a mare should be considered a “Genetic Gem” are meant to denigrate the judgment of other experts. Each of us will have weighed the available data against our own opinions of what is most important, and that is as it should be.
Finally, if your favorite-of-all-time broodmare has not been designated as a “Genetic Gem,” don’t assume that I don’t think she is worthy. Researching a mare’s family over five or six generations takes a lot of time, and I may not have gotten around to her yet. Another possibility is that her family simply hasn’t been around long enough; most mares foaled within the last forty years or so don’t have enough data out there yet. Old-time breeders sometimes said that the true value to the Thoroughbred of a given stallion or mare could not really be assessed until at least fifty years after the animal’s death, and when one’s view is long-range, one can afford to take a bit of time in drawing conclusions.
That said, the following mares have been designated as “Genetic Gems”:
As mares normally produce one foal per year and less than twenty over a lifetime, access to mares from top lineages is much more limited than access to good stallions, who may sire over two hundred foals in a single year. Yet, a mare contributes 50 percent of her foal’s genetics as well as providing the foal’s prenatal environment, early diet, and initial socialization. Thus, identification and retention of the best female strains are crucial to a breeder’s long-term success. It is no coincidence that most of the great breeders of history took great care in assembling their broodmare bands, regularly weeded out and sold subpar animals, and sought out access to fine stallions whose characteristics would complement the known conformation, temperament, and performance tendencies of their matriarchs and their daughters. The "Genetic Gems" concept represents an attempt to recognize those exceptional matrons whose families have kept delivering the goods rather than petering out within a couple of generations.
It should be noted that not every mare descended in tail-female from a "Genetic Gem" is worth persevering with; even the best families have weak branches that never produce anything worthwhile. The designation of "Genetic Gem" recognizes sustained overall excellence but is no guarantee of any given individual's performance as a racer or as breeding stock.
My criteria for designation of a mare as a "Genetic Gem" are as follow:
- The mare must have at least fifth-generation descendants that have achieved distinction during their racing or breeding careers. This means that most of my selections will have been foaled at least 50 years ago and probably more.
- The mare must have been an above-average producer of racing stock or have an exceptional record as the dam of successful stallions and/or good broodmare daughters, with preference given to a combination of the above. If the mare is remembered today on the basis of only one or two foals, she certainly deserves respect for that but will not qualify as a “Genetic Gem.”
- The mare’s family must have one or more branches that are continuing to produce top racehorses, successful sires, and/or exceptional broodmares. There have been a number of fine broodmares that enjoyed considerable success over their own lifetimes but whose families have petered out as sources of good horses. I am looking for sustained success. Obviously, some mares are far enough back in time that daughters, granddaughters, or great-granddaughters have established major families of their own, and these mares may receive identification as “Genetic Gems” in their own right.
Naturally, there is substantial overlap between “Genetic Gems” and outstanding broodmares recognized by other leading pedigree analysts, such as Ellen Parker’s Reines-de-Course, John Sparkman’s “Foundation Mares,” and Edward Bowen’s “Matriarchs.” None of my opinions as to whether a mare should be considered a “Genetic Gem” are meant to denigrate the judgment of other experts. Each of us will have weighed the available data against our own opinions of what is most important, and that is as it should be.
Finally, if your favorite-of-all-time broodmare has not been designated as a “Genetic Gem,” don’t assume that I don’t think she is worthy. Researching a mare’s family over five or six generations takes a lot of time, and I may not have gotten around to her yet. Another possibility is that her family simply hasn’t been around long enough; most mares foaled within the last forty years or so don’t have enough data out there yet. Old-time breeders sometimes said that the true value to the Thoroughbred of a given stallion or mare could not really be assessed until at least fifty years after the animal’s death, and when one’s view is long-range, one can afford to take a bit of time in drawing conclusions.
That said, the following mares have been designated as “Genetic Gems”: