The Thoroughbred industry pays close attention to their family of mares. Mares produce fewer foals than successful stallions, but they hold the heart of blue blood in their genes and they are the ones who carry the hope of the big heart genes on their double-X chromosomes.Anyway, three ways that the industry pays attention to these mares is through the Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Award, the Sovereign Award (for Canadian Blue Hens), and the Reines-de-Course -- the ledger of very important mares who have left a foundational mark on the breed! My big, sweet, lovely Violet has mares in each of these select clubs!
I know I don't have them all, but I am going to list as many as I can from the 1900's forward. Also, you should know that if a family line appears consecutively, I'll put it in parentheses!
Reines-de-Course: Sun Princess, (Big Event - La Troienne), (Mumtaz Begum - Mumtaz Mahal - Lady Josephine), (Blanche - Black Cherry - Black Duchess), (Canterbury Pilgrim - Pilgrimage), Vaila, Padua, (Nogara - Catnip), Scapa Flow, (Maid Marian - Quiver), Brown Bess, (Plucky Liege - Concertina), Mahubah, (Roquebrune - St. Marguerite), (Mah Mahal - Mumtaz Mahal - Lady Josephine), (Selene - Serenissima - Gondolette), (Hamoaze -- Maid of the Mist -- Sceptre), (Ace Card -- Furlough), (Sweetheart - Humanity), Mahubah, Fairy Gold, (Rowes Bud - Cherokee Rose -- Royal Rose).
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year: Ace Card and Traffic Court!
Sovereign Award Winner: Yonnie Girl.
You can read more about these special awards and mares at the following links:
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