THE famous Ballymacoll Stud in Dunboyne, Co Meath, is expected to generate great excitement when it comes to the market in the next two years. Described by a number of national agents as “the best stud farm to go up for sale in a number of years”, the interest in the property is expected to capture the attention of many international and Irish buyers.

Peter Reynolds, manager of the stud for the past 44 years, announced during the week that the prestigious operation would most likely be sold privately within the next two years, as he will be then due to retire.

Ballymacoll Stud is presently owned by the Weinstock family, who purchased the property along with 130 horses for £250,000 in 1960. Since then they have bred numerous Group 1 winners, including the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, who was sold privately by Ballymacoll to race in Australia.

Steeped in Irish racing history, the stud farm stands on 300 acres, has 60 stables and is the birthplace of Arkle. It is likely that the 16 broodmares and the 23 Ballymacoll-owned horses in training will be sold at auction before the sale of the property itself.

Celia Lamb, head of Ganly Walters Country Home and Farms believes there will be a huge interest in the unique and prestigious stud farm, because they so rarely come to the market.

Ardbraccan Estate, also in Co Meath, was sold to US software company owner and racehorse owner, Charles Noell, for €4.9 million in 2012. In December 2014, another American businessman, John Malone, snapped up two major Irish stud farms – Castlemartin Stud in Kildare and Ballylinch Stud in Kilkenny.

However, Irish buyers cannot be overlooked in the sale of major stud farms in the country, with Coolmore Stud acquiring suitable farmland in recent years and Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Ireland operation is also a prominent player whenever stud land in prime areas comes to the market.

HISTORY OF BALLYMACOLL STUD

  • Founded by Henry Hamilton, who owned it until January 1911, when it was sold to Lord Nugent.
  • April 1946: The property was purchased by Dorothy Paget. She owned the stud until 1960. Despite owning the stud, Dorothy Paget never actually visited the farm herself.
  • June 1960: Sir Michael Sobell and his son-in-law Lord Arnold Weinstock bought the property together with approximately 130 horses for £250,000.
  • 1974: Lord Weinstock’s son, the Hon. Simon Weinstock, became a partner in Ballymacoll with his father.
  • Present: Ballymacoll has been under the management of Peter Reynolds for 43 years. In 2010 Ballymacoll Stud celebrated 50 years of business under the ownership of the Weinstock and Sobell families. Reynolds has announced that the stud will be sold in the next two years due to his approaching retirement.