Ballymacoll Stud

Ballymacoll Stud is a thoroughbred stud farm of 300 acres in County Meath, Ireland. It is located in the townland of Ballymacoll, approximately 2 miles from the village of Dunboyne and 4 miles from the town of Maynooth. The farm has consistently produced race horses of the highest calibre from a small band of broodmares. Under it's current ownership it has produced 27 individual Group 1 winners of 51 Group 1 races since 1960.

Ballymacoll Estate was founded by Henry Hamilton (1760-1844). It remained in Hamilton hands until January 1911, when it was sold to Lord Nugent. Other owners and tenants followed, including Boss Croker, the trainer, the Inchape Family, and the Irish Army (during World War II).

In April 1946 the property was purchased by the Hon. Dorothy Paget, daughter of Lord Queenborough and Pauline (daughter of William C. Whitney). She owned the stud until her death in February 1960 at the age of 54. Despite owning the stud, Dorothy Paget never actually visited the farm herself, but she did from time to time receive detailed reports, illustrated with photographs.

Sir Gordon Richards, had been Dorothy Paget's principal jockey and trainer, right up the time of her death. He was instrumental in persuading the then Mr. Michael Sobell, the industrialist and philanthropist (later Sir Michael Sobell), and his son-in-law, Sir Arnold Weinstock, Managing Director of G.E.C. (later Lord Weinstock) to buy the farm in June 1960. The price agreed for the 300 acre farm, together with approximately 130 horses was £250,000.

Following the purchase, horses surplus to requirements were sold at the Newmarket sales that year. In 1967 the main house at Ballymacoll, which had stood semi-derelict for many years was demolished.

In 1974 Lord Weinstock's son, the Hon. Simon Weinstock became a partner in Ballymacoll with his father. Simon took a very active role in the running of the stud and took particular responsibility for the matings. Tragically Simon Weinstock died in May 1996 at the age of 44. Lord Weinstock died in July 2002 and since then the stud has been run by Weinstock's executors on behalf of his family as a self sufficient operation.

Ballymacoll have enjoyed great success on the race track in recent years. 2008 saw them finish second in the Epsom Derby with Tartan Bearer before Conduit came into his own in the Autumn. He won the St Leger at Doncaster before going on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. In 2009 Conduit continued his Group 1 trail by taking the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. This result completed a remarkable 1-2 for Ballymacoll with the unlucky Tartan Bearer second (his third second place in Group 1 races). Conduit returned to Santa Anita on November 7, 2009 to repeat his feat of 12 months previously and take the Breeders' Cup Turf for a second time.

Group 1 Winners

• Conduit
• Mountain High
• North Light
• Gamut
• Islington
• Golan
• Indian Danehill
• Greek Dance
• Desert Boy
• Spectrum
• Pilsudski
• Fastness
• Saddler's Hall
• Sought Out
• Hellenic
• Prince of Dance
• Emmson
• Helen Street
• Sun Princess
• Lancastrian
• Troy
• Sharper
• Admetus
• Sallust
• Sun Prince
• Dart Board
• Reform

External links

• Ballymacoll Stud's website