Godolphin mares and stallions enjoy the same standard of care when they retire as they did all their working lives.
Stallions remain on the stud but retired broodmares live together in paddocks and are only stabled for health issues. Occasionally, broodmares are used as settled companions for younger retiring fillies.
In America, on Godolphin’s Jonabell Farm, our retired mares live in arguably the best paddock! It nestles on the banks of the South Elkhorn Creek complete with purpose-built, walk-in barn if they need to escape the elements.
Included in this group are Love Style, born in 1999, and the dam of multiple G1 winner and successful sire Scat Daddy as well as G3 winner Antipathy and Listed winner Lovestruck. Alongside is Tizdubai, foaled in 2001, and a full sister to multiple Eclipse Champion Tiznow, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, twice.
But whether winners or losers, a stakes mare, a nurse mare or a mare that wasn’t quite the fastest or the best breeder, the retired Jonabell mares enjoy the same, relaxed retirement, rarely lifting their heads from the lush, green grass.
The mares are fed daily, constantly observed, have monthly farrier checks, and are maintained on the same worming and vaccination programme as during their working lives.
Among the roses and magnolia trees and overlooking the stallion paddocks to one side and the mare and foal barn to the other, is the Jonabell Farm graveyard, where the stallions and broodmares are remembered and respected for all that they achieved.
Triple Crown winner Affirmed stands watch over the Jonabell stallion barn.
