Lane's End will cut stud fees

Herald-Leader Staff Report

In another sign of retrenchment in the equine industry, Will Farish of Lane's End Farm near Versailles announced Monday that the farm will further reduce many of its stud fees, including dropping top stallion A.P. Indy's fee from $300,000 to $250,000.

The farm had announced earlier this month that A.P. Indy would stay at $300,000, which would have put him alone at the top of the stallion price list. The new price ties him with Kingmambo, who also stands at Lane's End.

"After reviewing the recent yearling and mixed sales results, as well as the current economic environment, I am announcing a further reduction in many of our 2009 stud fees," Farish said of the second round of price cuts.

Kingmambo, sire of Breeders' Cup Classic second-place finisher Henrythenavigator, will stay at $250,000, the same as last year, but the price for Smart Strike will drop from $150,000 to $125,000.

Smart Strike is the sire of Curlin, the all-time top money-earning racehorse, who will join the farm's stud roster for $75,000 next year.