ASHFORD Stud, Coolmore’s American operation, has purchased the 725 acre Waterford Farm in Midway, Kentucky for a reported $10 million.

The stud was purchased in two transactions of more than $5m for the six tracts of land that make up Waterford Farm.

The farm, which has eight barns with a total of 138 stables, a main residence, a guesthouse, office and five employee homes, had belonged to the late Kathryn West. The West family had owned the estate since the 1880s. During that time, Waterford Farm developed into a leading breeding operation that bred top-class horses such as Grade 1 winners Chilukki, De La Rose and Lite Light.

Ashford Stud manager, Dermot Ryan said: “Waterford is a historic property and a long line of top horses have been raised there over the years. The West family along with Mack Miller were top breeders that we hold in the highest regard. We can only hope to be half as successful as they were with the property.”

CASHEL PALACE

Closer to home, it has recently been reported that a consortium involving Coolmore purchased the Cashel Palace Hotel in Tipperary for a sum believed to be in the region of €2.5 million.

The hotel, which has been closed since December 2014, is located in the heart of Co Tipperary’s bloodstock industry and in close proximity to both Coolmore Stud and the Ballydoyle stables.

PLANNED EQUINE FACILITY FOR CLONDALKIN

CLONDALKIN Equine Club has been boosted by the news that their new state-of-the-art equestrian facility in Ballyowen Park will be complete and open for business in the autumn of this year. The welcome news of the development, which is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, will provide local horse owners with a safe place to look after their animals.

The 3.25 acres, currently under the ownership of the council, will consist of 20 stables, ancillary facilities, an exercise paddock and a car park. The planned building will be one storey with rendered masonry walls, modelled on an American barn type equine development, which is intended to minimise impact on the area. The site will not be overlooked by existing homes nor will it be accessed through an existing residential estate.

The facility is expected to significantly reduce the number of horse’s euthanised each year in Dublin Mid-West.