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July 25, 2008 7:16:25 AM CDT

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You Can Lead a Horse to Mares, But You Can't Make Him Sire

Posted Apr 28, 08 9:34 AM CDT in Sports,  US 

(Newser) – War Emblem was a champion on the track, winning the 2002 Kentucky Derby, but as a sire, the racehorse is nowhere near as surefooted. Though surrounded by mares, War Emblem hasn't produced a live foal since 2005, and in more than five years at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan has mated only 70 times, the New York Times reports.

“We know he is fertile, but he has no interest in mares,” said Shadai's director. The reluctant champion has cost the stable up to $55 million in stud fees, though the few progeny War Emblem has produced have shown great promise. "It’s very abnormal to have no sexual interest in mares," says an expert. "I've never seen anything like it."

Source New York Times

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Shadai Stallion Station has offered War Emblem old and young mares, grey and chestnut, feisty and docile, and still he doesn't seem very interested.   (Flickr)
War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby in 2002, but hasn't been making as big of strides with the ladies in his new job as a sire.   (Thomas Allen Pauly)
War Emblem hasn't been the sire Shadai had hoped he would be, managing to mate with only 70 mares since starting his new job in 2002.   (Shadai Stallion Station)
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