A week is a long time in many pursuits in life and none more so than the thoroughbred industry.
Only seven days ago, Dynamic Syndications Managing Director Dean Watt and his wife Fiona were in Fethard, Tipperary, at one of the most famous addresses in Ireland.
The town of Fethard is situated in the heart of an area known as the Golden Vale.
It was 10:00am and we had arrived for our appointment at Coolmore Stud, acknowledged worldwide as one of the biggest and best, thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation.
Coolmore Stud Ireland, sits on more than 7,000 acres of Ireland’s finest limestone pastures.
This was our first visit to the thoroughbred industry’s “holy grail.”
It was our utopia, and for purists of our worldwide thoroughbred industry, it’s a pilgrimage that has to be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
Taken on a tour of the stud by ex-pat Aussie Tom Moore, we spent several hours absorbing the Coolmore atmosphere.
Dean Watt & Tom Moore
Coolmore Stud in Ireland provides a flawless environment for breeding and raising of the highest quality thoroughbreds.
Irish pastures
Outstanding management of their pastures as much as the horses, provides the beholder with 360 degree surreal scenes of equine perfection.
Whilst we have been fortunate to have travelled extensively and visited many of the world’s best thoroughbred breeding operations, it remains our opinion that none truly compare to the aura of Coolmore Stud at Felthard.
It’s obvious that select, purposeful management of pastures has resulted in the perfect micro-environment to establish maximum growth opportunities for the thoroughbred, as they absorb the riches the limestone pastures abundantly provide.
The expert staff are treated to a workplace chock-full of the best facilities money can buy and these are blended into a historical area, dotted by ruins of Castles and Watchtowers of a bygone era.
Watchtower ruins overlook the farm & scene from the farm
History and the latest scientific advancements blend harmoniously together in a quiet and relaxed environment.
Stallion Barns
Vet Room in Breeding Barn
The Workbench !
GALILEO now calls home the same box of yesterday's champions BE MY GUEST & DANEHILL
Up close and personal with World Champion Sire - GALILEO
From the Stallion Barns to the Breeding Barns, from the Foaling paddocks to the Weaning areas, from the lush roomy paddocks to the Yearling barns, the personalised care and attention the thoroughbred is offered at Coolmore Stud is without comparison.
There is 24 hour care at Coolmore year round. This comprises of year round night staff and security staff, 24 hour resident veterinary care including an on-site veterinary hospital with a neo-natal intensive care unit.
Also there is a world class farrier team situated on site along with Coolmore’s fleet of trucks to handle the logistics of their big operation.
Coolmore Stud started out as a small dairy farm.
John Magnier originally had a small property in County Cork however in conjunction with champion horse trainer Vincent O’ Brien (John Magnier’s father-in-law) and John’s good mate Robert Sangster, they purchased a 350-acre existing dairy farm in 1975 in Fethard, Tipperary, with the objective of creating a world class thoroughbred stallion operation.
They succeeded and with natural expansion acquiring surrounding farms, Coolmore is acknowledged as a world-class thoroughbred stud farm which has a long list of champions on its past and present rosters.
Many of these champions were trained nearby at the world-famous Ballydoyle Stables, established by Vincent O’Brien and now is where Aidan O’Brien trains from.
One of the absolute treats of the visit was the honour bestowed upon us to be invited into Coolmore’s private inner sanctum, where we were able to gaze upon living history.
Various meeting rooms in the Coolmore inner-sanctum
Excellent hospitality as always from Team Coolmore
The Trophies, Cups, Plates are everywhere along with a memorial to Sadler’s Wells who gave Coolmore its foundations and many interactive displays of great racing history. The Boadroom, Meeting Rooms and Hospitality areas, where in typical Irish style, a Guinness is offered to quench a thirst.
Scattered through the property are statues of some of the many great stallions from the Coolmore roster. Stallions, like Danehill, Galileo, have been immortalised to acknowledge their importance.
Statues of Careleon and Danehill
Statues of Galilieo and Montjeu
Statues of Sadler's Wells and Yeats
As is customary in Fethard, a visit to the typical Irish pub named McCarthy’s for a meal and a pint of Guinness was the ultimate way to conclude a perfect day.
Our sincere thanks goes to Tom Moore (Marketing) and Tom Lynch (Farm Manager) for their time and valuable insights.
Also we would not have been as fortunate to have this experience, if it was not for the great team at Coolmore Australia who organised our visit with their Irish based counterparts. We thank in particular Sebastian Hutch and Colm Santry for their efforts.
With Coolmore safely in the hands of Tom Magnier (Australia) and M.V. Magnier (Ireland) the future is assured.