How often is it a mare is 'racing in foal'?

[Glimmerglass]

Just curious as I see this in regards to Ravi’s Song running Saturday evening in the Grade 3 Early Times Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs:

[Ravi’s Song] ran second to Joyful Victory in the Tiffany Lass Stakes, then was last of five in the Grade 3 Azeri at Oaklawn, and a close fourth on turf at Keeneland on April 11 in a stakes-quality allowance behind Marketing Mix, Inglorious, and Hungry Island.

One change in the Mint Julep: She will be racing in foal. Bowman said she was bred to Distorted Humor after her last start, and plans call for her to run until likely September during the early part of her pregnancy.

Ravi’s Song, a 6-year-old Unbridled’s Song mare owned by breeder Yoshio Fujita, did miss a little training as a result of time away for two coverings, Bowman said. Miguel Mena rides.

Is that semi-common or rarity that a mare would race while in the early stages of pregnancy?

[DeeThbd]

I’ve seen it done both intentionally and unintentionally.
Usually in the race office there is a list posted saying which mares on the grounds are in foal, though I do wonder what happens to the stud fee if the mare is claimed . From what one trainer told me, certain mares are the type who do better in a job, so they are kept in race training, or for practicality, or for fitness reasons.
And I know of one trainer who came into the track one morning to find a freshly minted foal in a stall with one of his racehorses (he had no idea the mare was in foal, and I think she had been bought and sold between a couple of different trainers), and another who thought a filly had a case of the “slows”’ took her to the farm, and got presented with a baby as well. In the second case, the former owner / trainer turned EVERYBODY out together, but flatly refused to allow the new owner to know who the potential sires were - so the foal was never registerable.
Dee

[Drvmb1ggl3]

It’s not that uncommon. Some very famous mares have raced in foal. i.e Spain who won the Fluer des Lis at Churchill while in foal to Storm Cat. That was an expensive bun in her belly.

[Slewdledo]

We ran a mare in foal in early '90s at Yakima. She won at least once, from what I remember.

A few years ago, mare named Independent Cat ran in foal (to AP Indy, I think?) at Churchill and broke down and they lost her. That had to suck.

Locally, a mare ran in foal here and was claimed. The claim was voided because the trainer (owners, really) hadn’t declared that she was in foal, as required. They’re supposed to keep a list of in-foal mares at the track in the race office.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Check out this mare, Miss Gorica, she won a handicap a couple of years ago, carrying a whopping 148lbs, giving away 37lbs (yes, you read that right, carrying 148lbs and giving away 37lbs) to the runner up.
She ran 11 times between Apr 25 and Aug 29th 2010, including winning a Listed race and finishing 3rd in a G3, all while in foal to Dylan Thomas.

[rustbreeches]

I’ve seen it a few times, but usually just the first couple months, esp. if it is a nicer turf mare and they want a couple more good races.

I’m having a huge brain fart right now, but there was a mare in the VA Gold Cup years ago, that was bred. Ridden by a pregnant women, who quipped after the race that “the 4 of them finished last”

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Not the Va. Gold Cup - it was Diane Crump in a flat race. She’s quoted as saying that lots of places, including my mom’s book “Equal To The Challenge.”

[Florida_Fan]

racing while pregnant

I remember years back that Michele Nunn (can’t remember her married name), pregnant at the time, won a stakes at Tampa on a mare who was pregnant. Maybe someone on the board remembers and can fill in the blanks.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6352460]
Just curious as I see this in regards to Ravi’s Song running Saturday evening in the Grade 3 Early Times Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs.[/QUOTE]

Update: Ravi’s Song, who was the mare in foal, finished 4th in the race and approx 5-lengths from the winner