Lavington Stud

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bred at Lavington

History of Lavington Stud

Lavington Stud was founded by James Buchanan, 1st Baron Woolavington, in 1890.

Lord Woolavington was one of the premier owner-breeders of his day - passionate about racing, and highly successful.

The Stud, uniquely placed at the foot of the South Downs near Petworth in West Sussex, was originally a dairy farm. Woolavington recognised that its 340 acres of rolling chalk grassland, fed by natural spring water and protected from adverse weather by hills and woodland, provided a perfect location for breeding horses.

His hands-on development of the Stud involved converting existing outbuildings into high-quality yards and stabling and installing some 15 miles of post and rail to add to the four miles of parkland fencing surrounding the property.

The first two stallions at Lavington were Black Sand and Santry, but the horse that brought fame to the stud was the undefeated Hurry On (Marcovil - Tout Suite). A 500-guinea yearling who eventually stood over 17 hands, he ran only as a three-year-old. His six victories included the New St Leger of 1916 at Newmarket.

Hurry On, champion sire of 1926, was responsible for the winners of seven classics - including Derby winners Coronach, Captain Cuttle and Call Boy. His son Precipitation sired champions Airborne, Chamossaire, Premonition and Sheshoon. Hurry On was also three times leading sire of broodmares.

When Lord Woolavington died in 1936, his daughter sold the main house but kept the Stud, developing the enterprise further with the purchase of Lordship and Egerton Studs in Newmarket. The expanding broodmare band continued to be based at Lavington, however, increasingly Lavington became a public establishment.

In 1985, Lady Macdonald-Buchanan decided to focus attention solely on Lavington. The Newmarket studs were sold and Lavington Stud started enjoying its second phase of growth and investment.

In 1990 Lavington had a sensational star with In the Groove (Night Shift - Pine Ridge), winner of four Group 1 events and became champion filly in Europe.

RECENT WINNERS RAISED OR SOLD FROM LAVINGTON STUD

PAPINEAU (Singspiel - Early Rising)
Won Ascot Gold Cup Gr 1. Henry II Stakes Sandown Gr 2. £212,999

NAYYIR (Indian Ridge - Pearl Kite)
Won 5 including Challenge Stakes Newmarket Gr 2, Diomed Stakes Epsom Gr 3, Lennox Stks Goodwood Gr 3 £147,427
2nd Sussex Stakes Goodwood Gr 1. Celebration Mile Gr 2 Goodwood. £100,500

HIGHEST (Selkirk - Pearl Kite)
Won 3 including Dubai City of Gold Gr 3, 2nd St Leger Stakes Doncaster Gr 1, 2nd Great Voltigeur Stakes Gr 2 York £156,828

LUVAH GIRL (Alzao - Girl Of My Dreams)
Rockfel Stakes Gr 3 Newmarket, 2nd Princess Margaret Stakes Ascot Gr 3

KOOTENAY (Selkirk - Llia)
Won 4, pl 6 £130,128 incl. Masaka Stks Kempton (L), Princess Elizabeth Stks Epsom (L), Premio Coolmore Milan (L) and pl 3rd in Falmouth Stks Newmarket Gr 2, 2nd in Premio Dormello Milan Gr 3, 3rd in Prestige Stks Goodwood Gr 3, 3rd Premio Sergio Cumani Milan Gr 3, 2nd Lupe Stks Goodwood (L).

MAZUNA (Cape Cross - Keswa)
Won Princess Royal Stakes Ascot Gr 3. 2nd Park Hill Stakes Doncaster Gr 2. £60,189

CAESAR BEWARE (Daggers Drawn - Red Shareef)
Won St Leger Yearling Stakes Doncaster £232,726

WINNERS BRED BY LAVINGTON STUD 1903 - 2005
597 Winners of 1,866 Races