The National Stud

The National Stud is a Thoroughbred horse-breeding and stallion-standing operation near Newmarket, Suffolk, one of the principal centres of British racing and bloodstock activity. It combines commercial breeding services with horse boarding, stallion management, education, vocational training and organised public tours. The operation occupies approximately 500 acres beside Newmarket’s July Course and is designed to accommodate a substantial population of breeding stock, young horses and horses receiving rest or recuperation. The institution originated in 1916, when William Hall Walker, later Lord Wavertree, transferred the bloodstock of his stud at Tully in County Kildare to the British Government. The government purchased the Irish property for £47,625 as part of the arrangement. The donated bloodstock included six stallions, 43 broodmares, 29 yearlings and two-year-olds, and approximately 300 Shorthorn cattle. The new national stud was placed under the Ministry of Agriculture, with Henry Greer appointed as its first director. During its early decades the stud operated from Tully and bred or stood a number of horses that became important in British and Irish racing history. Its notable bloodstock included Blandford, Myrobella, Royal Lancer, Big Game, Sun Chariot and Chamossaire. In 1943, the Irish Government acquired the Tully property and established the Irish National Stud there. The British operation consequently moved its bloodstock to Sandley Stud at Gillingham in Dorset, later expanding through a lease of a second facility at West Grinstead in Sussex. Stallions associated with the Dorset and Sussex periods included Tenerani, Never Say Die and Alcide. A major institutional change occurred in 1963, when control passed from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Horserace Betting Levy Board. Government funding ended, and the stud increasingly operated as a commercially oriented stallion station rather than as a fully government-supported breeding programme. The Levy Board sold the broodmare herd and decided to concentrate on stallion standing. The Gillingham property was subsequently sold, and the National Stud moved to Newmarket after the Jockey Club offered a 999-year lease on Bunbury Farm and Heath Stud. Together, the properties provided roughly 500 acres for a purpose-built operation. Construction began in late 1964, with the land converted to pasture and extensive tree planting carried out in the following year. Director Peter Burrell shaped the layout, while architect K. M. Benbow designed the buildings. The Newmarket stud was planned to accommodate six stallions, some owned entirely by the operation and others held in partnership with syndicate shareholders. Never Say Die and Tudor Melody were the first stallions to arrive at the new site in 1966. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Newmarket facility in April 1967. Mill Reef became one of the most celebrated horses associated with the Newmarket stud. After a racing career that included major victories and ended following a serious leg injury, he joined the National Stud in 1973. His legacy is commemorated by a statue at the facility. The stud has continued to stand commercially significant stallions while also preserving the heritage of British racing through retired racehorses and visitor interpretation. Financial pressure threatened the operation with closure in 2007. In response, responsibility for the National Stud was transferred from the Horserace Betting Levy Board to the Jockey Club. Under Jockey Club ownership, the stud has continued as a mixed commercial, educational and visitor operation. In addition to breeding services, it provides residential training courses for prospective and current stud staff, with capacity for up to approximately 50 students each year. It also offers organised tours and is described as the only Thoroughbred stud in the United Kingdom regularly open to the public. The operation receives approximately 10,000 visitors annually through tours arranged by Discover Newmarket. Its recent stallion roster has included Lope Y Fernandez, Mutasaabeq, Rajasinghe, Stradivarius and Time Test. After the 2024 breeding season, Mutasaabeq and Time Test moved to India and Turkey respectively, while Group 1-winning sprinter Bradsell joined the roster. The stud also accommodates retired racing personalities, including Lord Windermere and The Tin Man, with Kinross joining them in 2025. The National Stud therefore operates at the intersection of commercial bloodstock, racing heritage, workforce development and public engagement.

The National Stud began in 1916 through William Hall Walker’s donation of the bloodstock from his Tully stud in County Kildare to the British Government. The transfer involved six stallions, 43 broodmares, 29 yearlings and two-year-olds, and around 300 Shorthorn cattle. The government purchased the Tully property for £47,625 and placed the operation under the Ministry of Agriculture. Henry Greer became its first director, followed by Noble Johnson in 1933 and Peter Burrell in 1937. Burrell remained in the role for 33 years and later influenced the design and organisation of the Newmarket facility. The Tully period established the stud’s national role and produced or was associated with several important Thoroughbreds, including Blandford, Myrobella, Royal Lancer, Big Game, Sun Chariot and Chamossaire. In 1943, the Irish Government bought the Tully property and founded the Irish National Stud there. British bloodstock was moved to Sandley Stud at Gillingham in Dorset. After the Second World War, the operation expanded through a lease of the West Grinstead stud in Sussex. Stallions standing at the Dorset and Sussex locations included Tenerani, Never Say Die and Alcide. In 1963, administrative control moved to the Horserace Betting Levy Board. The stud ceased receiving further government funding and became increasingly commercial in orientation. The Levy Board sold its broodmares and focused the business on standing stallions. The Gillingham stud was sold, and the operation relocated to Newmarket after the Jockey Club granted a 999-year lease on Bunbury Farm and Heath Stud, adjacent to the July Course. The combined estate covered about 500 acres. The Newmarket site was developed from late 1964. The land was converted to pasture, thousands of trees were planted and purpose-designed buildings were constructed. Peter Burrell determined the site layout, while K. M. Benbow designed the buildings. The facility was intended to house six stallions, with ownership arrangements including both wholly owned horses and syndicate interests. Never Say Die and Tudor Melody arrived in 1966, and Queen Elizabeth II opened the Newmarket stud in April 1967. Mill Reef was among the most prominent stallions to stand at Newmarket. He joined the stud in 1973 after his racing career ended because of a leg injury and is commemorated with a statue. The operation’s role subsequently extended beyond breeding to include horse boarding, education, workforce training and public interpretation. It accommodates breeding stock, young horses, seasonal and permanent boarders, and horses undergoing rest or recuperation. In 2007, financial difficulties threatened the stud’s continuation. The National Stud was transferred from the Levy Board to the Jockey Club, which became its owner. The organisation remained active as a commercial breeding facility while retaining its national heritage and educational functions. Residential training programmes support up to approximately 50 students annually, and organised tours bring about 10,000 visitors each year. The stud is described as the only Thoroughbred stud in Britain regularly open to the public. The modern operation has maintained a changing roster of commercially available stallions. Named recent residents include Lope Y Fernandez, Mutasaabeq, Rajasinghe, Stradivarius and Time Test. Mutasaabeq and Time Test moved to India and Turkey after the 2024 season, while Bradsell joined the roster. The site also houses celebrated retired racehorses, including Lord Windermere, The Tin Man and, from 2025, Kinross. Diego Velazquez was reported as joining the stallion population in 2026 after winning the 2025 Prix Jacques Le Marois.

• 2025

  Kinross joined the retired residents

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  Kinross joined other notable retired racehorses kept at the facility.

• 2007

  Ownership transferred to the Jockey Club

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  The Jockey Club took over the stud after funding problems threatened its future.

• 1973

  Mill Reef joined the stud

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  The celebrated racehorse Mill Reef arrived as a stallion after the end of his racing career.

• 1967

  Newmarket facility officially opened

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the new stud in April.

• 1964

  Newmarket construction began

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  Work started on the purpose-built Newmarket stud at Bunbury Farm and Heath Stud.

• 1963

  Control passed to the Horserace Betting Levy Board

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation lost government funding, sold its broodmares and concentrated increasingly on stallion standing.

• 1943

  British bloodstock left Tully

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  The Irish Government acquired the Tully property and established the Irish National Stud; the British operation moved to Dorset.

• 1937

  Peter Burrell became director

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Burrell succeeded Noble Johnson and later guided the organisation through its move to Newmarket.

• 1933

  Noble Johnson became director

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  Noble Johnson succeeded Henry Greer as director.

• 1916

  Foundation through the Tully bloodstock transfer

  [1]The National Studen.wikipedia.org

  William Hall Walker transferred the bloodstock of his Tully stud to the British Government, establishing the institution under the Ministry of Agriculture.

A heritage British Thoroughbred institution combining commercial stallion services with specialist education, racing-history preservation and public access.

• Thoroughbred breeding

  Stallion standing and breeding services

  The National Stud stands selected Thoroughbred stallions for commercial breeding. Its stallion roster changes over time according to racing performance, ownership and international bloodstock demand. The service is the core commercial activity inherited from the stud’s post-1963 focus on stallion standing.

• Horse boarding

  Mare, foal and young-horse boarding

  The site provides accommodation and care for broodmares, foals, young horses and seasonal or permanent boarders. Its facilities can also support racehorses requiring rest and recuperation, making the operation broader than a stallion station alone.

• Equine education

  Education and residential training

  The National Stud runs residential courses at different levels for people entering or developing careers in stud management and Thoroughbred breeding. The programme has capacity for approximately 50 students per year and forms part of the organisation’s public-interest role.

• Visitor experience

  Organised public tours

  Working-stud tours give visitors access to the breeding environment, facilities and racing heritage of the Newmarket site. Tours are organised through Discover Newmarket, and the stud receives approximately 10,000 visitors annually.

• Racing heritage

  Retired racehorse and living-legend accommodation

  The facility provides a home for notable retired racehorses. Lord Windermere and The Tin Man have shared a paddock as living legends, with Kinross later joining them. Mill Reef’s legacy is also preserved through a statue at the stud.

• 2024

  Stallion roster changes after the 2024 seasonProduct launch

  Background

  The stud’s commercial stallion roster is periodically adjusted in response to ownership and international bloodstock arrangements.

  Action taken

  Mutasaabeq and Time Test moved to India and Turkey respectively, while Bradsell joined the roster.

  Aftermath

  The changes refreshed the commercial stallion offering for subsequent breeding seasons.

  Source

• 2007

  Transfer to Jockey Club ownershipM&A

  Background

  A shortage of funds threatened the continuation of the stud under the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

  Action taken

  The National Stud was transferred from the Levy Board to the Jockey Club.

  Aftermath

  The stud continued operating under Jockey Club ownership as a commercial breeding, education and visitor facility.

  Source

• 1964

  Relocation and construction of the Newmarket studStrategy

  Background

  The Gillingham property was sold after the operation had become focused on stallions.

  Action taken

  The Jockey Club provided a 999-year lease on Bunbury Farm and Heath Stud, and construction began on a purpose-built facility adjacent to the July Course.

  Aftermath

  The Newmarket site opened in 1967 and became the enduring home of The National Stud.

  Source

• 1963

  Shift toward a stallion-station modelStrategy

  Background

  After control passed to the Horserace Betting Levy Board and government funding ended, the organisation needed to operate on a more commercial basis.

  Action taken

  The Levy Board sold the stud’s broodmares and concentrated operations on standing stallions.

  Aftermath

  The decision preceded the relocation to Newmarket and shaped the stud’s modern commercial identity.

  Source

1. 1The National Studen.wikipedia.org