Dominant Maryland Sire Great Notion Pensioned

Great Notion, Maryland's eight-time leading sire and a dominant stallion in the Mid-Atlantic region, has been retired from stud duty, Northview Stallion Station announced Nov. 19. The 25-year-old son of Elusive Quality has been pensioned at Northview's farm near Chesapeake City, Md., which has been his home for more than two decades for a "peaceful and well-earned retirement," according to general manager David Wade. "Great Notion has been nothing short of transformational for breeding in Maryland," Wade added. "His ability to upgrade mares, his consistency year after year, and the sheer quality of his runners have elevated our entire regional program. Retiring him now is simply doing right by the horse. He's earned every comfort we can give him, and his impact will continue to be felt for generations." Great Notion has held leading sire titles in Maryland for 10 years, starting as the state's leading freshman sire in 2008 and the only member of the Maryland freshman class to sire a stakes winner that year. He was runner-up as a second-crop sire by progeny earnings to roster mate Domestic Dispute in 2009 but returned to the top spot as a third-crop sire with more than $1.1 million in progeny earnings. His third-crop year was strong enough to put him among Maryland's top 10 overall sires for 2010. As the career of another dominant Mid-Atlantic sire Not For Love started to wane, Great Notion's influence gained momentum to fill the void. Great Notion first became Maryland's general leading sire in 2018 with more than $3.77 million in progeny earnings and the highest number of black-type stakes winners (nine) and stakes performers (14). He would remain a fixture at the top of the state's sire standings through this year. For the Mid-Atlantic (including Pennsylvania and West Virginia), Great Notion became the region's overall leading sire in 2022 and has held the title since then. Bred in Kentucky by Jayeff B Stables, Great Notion was a member of the first crop by prominent sire Elusive Quality. As a racehorse, he won the 2003 Southwest Stakes and then earned graded credentials as a sprinter with runner-up performances in the King's Bishop Stakes (G1) and Amsterdam Stakes (G2). As a stallion, Great Notion has sired 46 black-type winners (7.6% from foals of racing age) and 67 black-type performers for his career so far. His progeny have collectively earned more than $49 million and average $102,038 per starter. Consistency would be a hallmark of his sire career, with 79% of his foals becoming racehorses and 79% of his starters becoming winners. He was represented by a stakes winner in 18 consecutive crops and was the sire of at least one winner on the annual Maryland Million program for 16 consecutive years. He would sire at least one winner in every Maryland Million division, capping this achievement in 2024 when his son Brilliant Ice won the Maryland Million Classic Stakes. Great Notion's top performers included millionaire and graded stakes winner Coastal Mission and multiple graded stakes winners Future Is Now and Havelock. His runners possessed durability as well with his daughter Anna's Bandit winning 17 of 39 starts and capturing nine stakes along the way. Multiple stakes winners Twisted Ride made 36 starts, Witty made 34 starts, Alwaysinahurry ran 30 times, and Fille d'Esprit raced 28 times. Karan's Notion won a single stakes in the 2020 Maryland Million Sprint Handicap but raced 59 times and earned nearly $500,000. His progeny rewrote some records as well. His daughter Jazzy Idea, a homebred for Edwin Merryman, set a 6-furlong course record of 1:07.45 on the turf at Laurel Park in the 2012 Jameela Stakes and then broke her own record three races later in the Laurel Dash Stakes going 1:07.29 the same year. Ruby Notion, a homebred for Silverton Hill Farm, set a 6 1/2-furlong course record of 1:15.80 in the 2018 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T). Wade said Great Notion's ability to sire elite talent across different surfaces, distances, and ages made him a cornerstone of the state's breeding and racing success story. "There may never be another one like him," he said. "He elevated the entire region—breeders, trainers, owners, and the reputation of Maryland racing itself. We're grateful for every foal he gave us."