9 minute read
Ted talks
Ted asks: “What is happening to the UK-based stud farms?
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, a disproportionate number of stud farms have closed their doors, few are being retained in the industry in new hands and owner-breeders are disappearing.
I took a look through Alan Yuill Walker’s book “Thoroughbred Studs of Great Britain” and have followed the stories of a number of the farms listed... sadly, it does not make for happy reading from a bloodstock perspective. although a number of farms are thiriving and developing.
Last year Lavington Stud was sold, following on from the sale of Fair Winter Farm and Normandie Stud. The latter two, although still running as a stud farms, do so with boarders on commercial properties.
Marston Stud, owned by Lord and Lady Wellesley, has been leased out and Lord Rothschild’s Waddesdon Stud is no longer a thoroughbred stud.
Adstock Manor Stud no longer exists, neither does Angmering Park Stud.
Arches Hall is leased by Jamie Railton, Ashley Heath and Warren Hill Studs are now part of Cheveley Park Stud, Bernice Cuthbert’s Aston Park no longer exists.
Aston Upthorpe is under the Darley banner and still operates. Banstead belongs to Juddmonte, but Barleythorpe no longer exists.
Lady Fairhaven’s Parsonage Farm is up for sale. Beech House went to Shadwell Estates which is now reducing in size and, although not for sale, some of their studs are available to lease.
Biddestone is now owned by a Kuwait businessman, Bloomsbury is now leased and Bottisham Heath Stud is used as an overflow yard for Newmarket studs in the summer.
Brook Stud is now the home of the Woods family and Burton Agnes Stud is no longer.
Buttermilk Stud was sold to a local farmer. The mighty Cheveley Park Stud has thrived, expanded and is home to one of the largest UK-owned private broodmare bands in the UK.
Childwick Bury Stud, although no longer in the Joel family, is operating a small private boarding stud.
Cliff Stud has scaled down and no longer operates on a commercial basis, while Cliveden is no longer and is owned by an Indian property developer and lies unkept with fences falling down and paddocks abandoned.
Copgrove Hall Stud, managed by Brian O’Rourke, is a thriving commercial stud in the north of England.
Cotswold Stud is no longer and bought by a hotel group for development.
Crimbourne Stud is no Longer having been sold after Sir Eric Parker’s death
Dalham Hall is the centre of Sheikh Mohammed’s global operations, whilst Derisley Wood Stud was taken over by Juddmonte.
Dunchurch Lodge is still operated by the next generation of the Wyatt family. Egerton and Lordship parted company and Trevor Harris successfully operates the latter, whilst Egerton was being used to David Elsworth train, and as a small boarding stud
Eydon Hall Farm half lies dormant, and is half leased to myself. Floors Stud has been sadly reduced and, following the death of the Duke of Roxburgh, boards mares in the south of England, and the stud is leased out.
Fonthill is no longer operated by Lord Margadale’s family but leased. Gainsborough Stud is another under the Darley banner. Garrowby of Lord Halifax has since closed.
Gazeley Stud, although not in the McCalmont family, continues to operate as a private stud.
Hadrian Stud is part of Darley, while the mighty Hascombe is still operated successfully by the Oppenheimer family with much of the same blood lines.
Heatherwold Stud is now owned by Mike Caddy from HSBC and continues to operate a private broodmare band but is for sale, Hesmonds is owned by Mr Bizichof but his interests are now in France rather than the UK and it might be sold again
Juddmonte owns Side Hill, Escort, Banstead Manor, and Eagle Lane not to mention studs in US and Ireland, but Cayton Park was recently sold to South African interests.
Kingwood is more a rehabilitation project and home to trainer Owen Burrows, but Hillwood Stud replaces them.
Kirtlington Stud is on the market. Lanwades is independently owned by Kirsten Rausing and thrives with American and German bloodlines and is not afraid of middle-distance sires. Limestone Stud is no longer a commercial operation.
Littleton Stud has been successfully run by Jeff Smith for decades and has just invigorated its bloodlines.
Manor House Stud was recently bought by John Dance as a training base and stud.
Meon Valley continues to be prolific and successful at the sales, Minster Stud is operated by Willie Carson and he still buys new bloodlines to keep the stud current, along with his neighbours Chris Wright at Stratford Place and Nicholas Jones’s Coln Valley Stud, who regularly tops a yearling sale.
Moyns Park Stud has tried on recent occasions to reinvent itself, but has never quite managed a comeback.
The National Stud thrives as a boarding stud, ever waiting for the next Mill Reef to appear, but has a great following and is armed with some potential stallions for the future.
Its neighbour New England Stud continues to thrive since Peter Stanley’s world travels and, together with Stanley House, is a commercial player at Tattersalls. Northmore Stud Farm has a loyal following over the years.
Overbury Stud has excelled under Simon Sweeting since he leased the farm from the Holland Martin family. Pinfold Stud went the way predicted by its last owner who refused to subsidise the breeding of bloodstock, although very successful.
Plantation is now owned by Micheal O’Leary and is building a commercial presence after Lord Howard De Walden’s tenure.
The Royal Studs continue to breed at the highest level although Shirley Heights and associated stallions are a distant memory.
Rutland Stud and Sandley Studs are no longer, and Sandwich taken over by Cheveley Park Stud.
Shadwell encompass various studs around Bury St Edmonds and Sheldon Stud is no longer. Sledmere Stud is no longer although attempts were made for a revival.
Snailwell Stud, a Joel family stud, ceases to operate or does so at a reduced level, while Stetchworth Park Stud has been for sale several times, but is still operated by the Gredley Family.
Stowell Hill stud operates on a smaller level since the death of Bob McCreery.
The Sussex Stud is leased and is not a thoroughbred any more, Thornton, one-time home for mighty Kris, is no longer.
Waverton Stud is no longer but West Blagdon and Whatton Manor continue to be owner-operated.
White Lodge is part of Darley umbrella. Whitsbury is thriving under Ed Harper, who continues to adapt to the increasing pressures of English stud farming, Woolton House and Woodminton are gone, and Worksop Manor is being revived by Henry Farr.
Wyck Hall Stud is owned by the Jockey Club and leased out.
The moral of the story?
It is rare that stud farms are handed down through the generations, and in the Newmarket vicinity many have been bought by Middle Eastern-based purchasers. It is startling evidence that our industry is not the Sport of Kings, it is just not economically viable.
There is no solution. The industry has self-funded prizemoney through the EBF and GBB with help from the Levy, but it’s time to renegotiate with government or adjust the income streams from broadcasting or the bookmakers to help breeders.
Increased recognition and incentives are helping some stay in the business, but more is needed.
So, what do we do about increasing interest in breeding horses at the remaining studs in the UK?
There are few farms that have started afresh, such as Lady Bamford of Daylesford who has become a big owner.
Julian Richmond Watson and his wife Sarah have bred an Oaks winner at their Lawn Stud, and Bob and Pauline Scott have nurtured their Park Stud with the help of James Delahooke, who has helped them achieve some impressive sales prices.
In the north of England the McIntyre family’s Theakston Stud continues to thrive and grow in the hands of the new generation, while in the south, Newsells Park Stud is commercial and a huge success in a relatively short period of time.
Andrew Black of Chasemore has built a completely new entity near Epsom and in the west country the Pocock Family has invigorated a dairy farm to produce top class international runners.
Ed Sackville has guided Rockcliffe Stud and produced Sky Lantern.
Newmarket hosts John Troy of Willingham Stud, who has grown on the outskirts of HQ, along with Genesis Green operated by the Swinburn Family.
There are many Gulf region owners starting to breed and board mares on commercial stud farms.
Some farms have closed, and clients have moved – such as from Catridge Farm to Charlock Stud, while Culworth Grounds has received stock from the Dowager of Bedford.
Far Westfield Farm has a Qatar breeder.
It is with uncertainty that breeders continue and the recent deaths of Prince Khalid Abdullah, David Thompson and Sheikh Hamdan has compounded issues.
Traditionally the thoroughbred industry survives, and the passing of some has created opportunities for younger breeders to come in or buy at the sales.
A success story: Andrew Black’s Chasemore Farm is thriving and at the July Sale invested in the Group 1 winner Chachamaidee
On the sales’ side the traditional vendors are dwindling, and very few who sell either all the colts or the entire crop, are left.
Meon Valley and Cheveley Park are prime examples of those who continue to do so.
Raising horses is an art which eludes many people with its attention to detail and the ability to change course or plans at short notice.
Yes, you do need luck and the right bloodlines, but some studs and their management are much more prolific than others
Many popular boarding farms fail to produce stakes winners and very few manage it year in and year out.
Management and knowledge of raising horses, coupled with attention to detail, increases the number of stakes winners you produce.
If you have a full farm but no stakes winners or no Group 1 winners, it’s surely time to ask yourself why?
In the meantime, we need to club together to make a great industry greater in unity and save the many prolific and successful studs before they are sold for alternative uses and are lost from the industry.
