Thoroughbred Horse Racing
At his self-titled estate Aiglemont, in the town of Gouvieux in the Picardie region of France – about 4 kilometres west of the Chantilly Racecourse – the Aga Khan operates the largest horse racing and breeding operation in the country. In 1977, he paid £1.3 million for the bloodstock owned by Anna Dupré and in 1978, £4.7 million for the bloodstock of the late Marcel Boussac.
The Aga Khan is said to be the France’s most influential owner-breeder and record winner of The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks.
The Aga Khan owns Gilltown Stud near Kilcullen, Ireland, and Haras de Bonneval breeding farm at Le Mesnil-Mauger in France. In March 2005, he purchased the famous Calvados stud farms, the Haras d'Ouilly in Pont-d'Ouilly and the Haras de Val-Henry in Livarot. Haras d'Ouilly had been owned by such famous horsemen as the Duc Decazes, François Dupré and Jean-Luc Lagardère.
In 2006 the Aga Khan became the majority shareholder of French horse auction house Arqana.
On October 27, 2009 it was announced that Sea The Stars winner of the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1), Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-G1), Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1), and $5.8 million Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will stand stud at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland.
Read more about this topic: Aga Khan IV
Famous quotes containing the words thoroughbred, horse and/or racing:
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“I was the horse and the rider,
and the leather I slapped to his rump
spanked my own behind.”
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