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54-709: Coolmore was once home to champion sires Sadler's Wells , Danehill , and Galileo . Coolmore was originally a relatively small farm dedicated to general agriculture, but came into the Vigors family in 1945 when a training operation was established there. It was inherited by Tim Vigors , famous fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain and in the Far East. Having left the air force, he firstly joined Goffs bloodstock auctioneers before setting up his own bloodstock agency in 1951. He moved to Coolmore in 1968 and began transforming it into

108-951: A bloodstock boom in the 1980s. Coolmore's first major homebred was Sadler's Wells, a son of Northern Dancer born in Kentucky at Sangster's Swettenham Stud. In 1984, Sadler's Wells won the Irish 2,000 Guineas , the Eclipse Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes and was named the champion miler in France. Retired to stud at Coolmore, Sadler's Wells went on to be the fourteen-time leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland . Sadler's Wells leading offspring include Galileo , Montjeu and High Chaparral , all of whom became important sires at Coolmore. In 1990, Coolmore purchased

162-444: A female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89. 23.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

216-580: A half-interest in Danehill, a grandson of Northern Dancer, and began shuttling him between Ireland and Australia. Danehill became a champion sire first in Australia and then in Europe, siring well over 300 stakes winners. His sons include current Coolmore stallions Rock of Gibraltar , Dylan Thomas , Fastnet Rock and Holy Roman Emperor . Coolmore's current leading sire was Galileo, who as of 2022 has led

270-440: A large broodmare band and boards mares for clients. Coolmore is active at major breeding stock sales, looking for mares that are best suited to its stallions. For example, in 2012 Coolmore paid $ 5 million for Untouched Talent, already the dam of grade 1 winner Bodemeister , with plans to breed her to Galileo. In 2016, Coolmore announced that Untouched Talent was the first mare confirmed in foal to American Pharoah. The original farm

324-623: A notable sire in New Zealand and Australia. His sons have already produced important sires themselves, ensuring Sadler's Wells legacy will continue for years to come. Galileo's sire sons include Frankel , Teofilo , New Approach and Nathaniel (sire of two time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable ). Montjeu sired Motivator (sire of two time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Treve ) and Camelot (the leading 2nd Crop sire in Europe in 2018 and 3rd Crop Sire in Europe in 2019). El Prado sired Medaglia d'Oro (sire of American Horse of

378-557: A rating of 78, ten pounds behind the top-rated two-year-old, his stable-mate El Gran Senor . Sadler's Wells met El Gran Senor on the racecourse for the only time when he finished second to him in the seven-furlong Gladness Stakes at the Curragh. Frank McNulty, head of BBA Ireland, later commented: "I remember seeing him at the Gladness Stakes—when he walked into the ring I thought he looked absolutely magnificent, even though he

432-417: A runner, it is as a sire that Sadler's Wells is best known. He was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland a record-setting 14 times, including 13 titles in a row. At the time of his death, he had sired 323 stakes winners. Only Danehill , who was operational across both hemispheres, sired more. Sadler's Wells was also a notable sire of sires, including Galileo and Montjeu in Europe, and El Prado in

486-622: A seven- furlong maiden race. Ridden by Pat Eddery, the colt started the 1/2 favourite in a field of sixteen runners and won by six lengths from Cyrano. Three weeks later, he was moved up in class for the Group Three Beresford Stakes at the Curragh over one mile on soft ground. The horse led from the start and won by six lengths from Cerussite. In the International Classification, he was given

540-613: A station on the Bourbon Trail , and the Bluegrass Railroad and Museum . Most of the small-town scenes in the movie Elizabethtown (2005) were filmed in Versailles. It was also the setting of the movie Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005). The cemetery scene in the film Secretariat (2010), about one of Kentucky's major race and stud horses, was filmed at Pisgah Pike Church. The Flim-Flam Man (1967)

594-456: A world-record price of US$ 10.5 million. Sadler's Wells was originally considered a disappointment as a sire of sires, despite some early success by In the Wings in particular. This assessment was decisively overturned by the performance of several sons from his later crops. Sadler's Wells eventually sired 32 sons who themselves sired at least one group I or grade I winner, with 10 of them becoming

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648-612: Is a home rule-class city in Woodford County, Kentucky , United States . It lies 13 miles (21 kilometers) by road west of Lexington and is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area . Versailles has a population of 10,534 according to 2024 census estimates. It is the county seat of Woodford County. The city's name is pronounced / v ər ˈ s eɪ l z / vər- SAYLZ , an anglicization different from

702-473: Is now known as Coolmore Ireland, and has three branches: Coolmore Australia, Ashford Stud, which operates as Coolmore America, and Coolmore National Hunt (or Castle Hyde Stud) in Ireland, which specialises in breeding for National Hunt racing . Coolmore has many "shuttle stallions" that cover mares in either Ireland or Kentucky in the northern breeding season and are transported to Australia and South America for

756-649: Is on display in Fethard Horse Country Experience museum, which is located in Fethard Town Hall , not far from Coolmore Stud. Sadler's Wells was sired by Northern Dancer, who has been called the dominant progenitor of the breed in the twentieth century. In his second crop foaled in 1967, Northern Dancer sired Nijinsky, who would win the English Triple Crown and become an outstanding sire. This made Northern Dancer

810-456: Is the maternal grandsire of such notable horses as Workforce (Epsom Derby, Arc de Triomphe), Sakhee (Arc de Triomphe), Henrythenavigator (2000 Guineas), Taghrooda (Epsom Oaks), Peeping Fawn (Champion Filly), and Conduit (St Leger). In November 2007, a Sadler's Wells daughter, Playful Act , out of the mare Magnificient Style , was sold at the Keeneland breeding stock sale for

864-444: The 1000 Guineas , Epsom Oaks and Irish Derby , which helped propel Sadler's Wells to his first champion sire title. He went on to be Champion Sire in Great Britain & Ireland a record 14 times, including 13 years in a row from 1992 to 2004. The previous record of 13 titles was set by Highflyer in the 18th century. Sadler's Wells has been called one of the most influential sires of all times, especially based on his record in

918-648: The Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York. Two weeks later he ran in the inaugural Phoenix Champion Stakes , the most valuable race ever in Ireland. The colt held off a late challenge from Seattle Song to win by three-quarters of a length. That success took his prize money for the season to £384,114. At the time, this was the fourth-highest single-season total for any horse trained in Britain or Ireland, behind Troy (£408,424 in 1979), Tolomeo (£400,000 in 1983) and Shergar (£386,410 in 1981). On his last appearance, Sadler's Wells

972-644: The Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, where farmers also raised thoroughbred horses and other high-quality livestock, the city was officially incorporated on February 13, 1837. It was briefly occupied during the American Civil War by both Confederate and Union forces. In 1870, black residents of Versailles took part in a demonstration against police violence after a white officer struck a black man with his pistol. Demonstrators formed armed pickets and guarded roads in and out of Versailles. Two of

1026-494: The Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner, King Pellinore, and the brilliant but ill-fated Marinsky, who finished first in the 1977 July Cup at Newmarket. Special later produced Nureyev , the 1980 French champion miler and an outstanding sire, and the stakes winning fillies Number and Bound, who would themselves became successful producers. Versailles, Kentucky Versailles

1080-474: The Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park . He held off the challenge of the mare Time Charter to win by a neck. The winner was praised for his "battling" and "determined" performance against more-experienced rivals. Later that month, Sadler's Wells ran a strong second to Teenoso in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot . Sadler's Wells failed to reproduce his best form when fourth in

1134-604: The English Classic Races . He is the sire of 12 English Classic winners, a number comparable with leading sires Stockwell and St Simon from the 19th century. His English Classic winners are: Salsabil (1000 Guineas, Oaks), Intrepidity (Oaks), Moonshell (Oaks), Entrepreneur (2000 Guineas), King of Kings (2000 Guineas), Imagine (Oaks), Galileo (Derby), Milan (St Leger), High Chaparral (Derby), Brian Boru (St Leger), Refuse to Bend (2000 Guineas) and Alexandrova (Oaks). In 2001, his daughters swept

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1188-512: The Hunter Valley of New South Wales , is a 3,340 ha farm that has approximately 1,000 horses, including 600 mares that produce about 300 foals there during the spring. The stallion roster includes several permanent sires such as Choisir and Fastnet Rock , plus others who shuttle from the northern hemisphere on a rotating basis. The farm was founded in 1824 and purchased by Coolmore in 1996. Danehill first made his reputation here, becoming

1242-612: The leading sire in Australia nine times. Encosta de Lago also led the sire list twice before being retired from breeding in 2015. Fastnet Rock, still standing at Coolmore Australia, has led the Australian sire list twice. Coolmore's National Hunt division consists of three farms in Ireland: Grange Stud, Beeches Stud and Castlehyde Stud. The Magnier family has been breeding horses for the National Hunt since

1296-488: The poverty line , including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over. In the Inner Bluegrass Region , the area is a center for horse breeding and training, and for thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses and saddlebred pleasure horses. Thoroughbred farms include Woodburn Stud , Lane's End Farm , and WinStar Farm . Located in Versailles is Woodford Reserve Distillery ,

1350-422: The 1850s. Over the generations, they have stood several outstanding jump stallions, including 14-time leading sire Deep Run, and 4-time leader Be My Native. Although Sadler's Wells was never a National Hunt sire per se, several champion hurdlers trace back to him. Yeats , a son of Sadler's Wells renowned for his staying ability, now stands at Castlehyde Stud, in the 2021-22 jumps season Yeats became Champion Sire for

1404-654: The Americans in the 1970s and 1980s." In 2009, Sadler's Wells was the first horse to be entered into the Irish Thoroughbred Breeder Association's Hall of Fame. Sadler's Wells died peacefully on 26 April 2011 due to natural causes at the age of 30 at Coolmore Stud. Breeding industry expert Andrew Caulfield stated: "Superlatives are greatly overused in the world of sport, but no-one could begrudge their being used about Sadler's Wells, with his phenomenal record of 14 sires' championships in

1458-533: The French pronunciation of the royal city of the same name near Paris . Versailles was founded on June 23, 1792, on 80 acres (32 hectares) of land owned by Hezekiah Briscoe, who was, at the time, only a child. His guardian, Marquis Calmes , named the town after Versailles , France, in honor of General Lafayette , a family friend and hero of the American Revolution . Located in what became known as

1512-471: The United States. He helped reverse a trend from the middle of the twentieth century where many of Europe's most successful racehorses were exported to stand in the United States and later Japan. Sadler's Wells was a bay horse with a broad white blaze and white socks on his hind legs. He was bred in the United States by Robert Sangster 's Swettenham Stud and raced under Sangster's name. His owner

1566-599: The Wings and Old Vic . Two other colts from that crop, Scenic and Prince of Dance, dead-heated in the 1988 Dewhurst Stakes . In 1989 with only two crops of racing age, he set a world record by having 11 stakes winners in one year, an exceptional achievement at a time when foal crops were much smaller than today. For 1990, his stud fee increased to £150,000 with a book of 65 mares. Eamonn Phelan of Coolmore commented, "Very few stallions get offspring like themselves, but this fellow does. He's so tough and very well bred as well as being very sound." In 1990, his daughter Salsabil won

1620-593: The Year Rachel Alexandra ) and Kitten's Joy , the leading sire in North America in 2013 and 2018. On 13 May 2008 Coolmore announced that Sadler's Wells was retiring from breeding due to declining fertility. Bill Oppenheim, a columnist with Thoroughbred Daily News, wrote that Sadler's Wells "singlehandedly restored the reputation of Europe as a place where you could stand world-class stallions after European stallion ranks had been decimated by

1674-477: The champion two-year-old filly of 1977. Fairy Bridge was closely related to a number of outstanding horses previously trained by O'Brien, including Thatch , Marinsky, Lisadell and Apalachee . In 1980, Fairy Bridge was sent back to America and bred to Northern Dancer , the most successful sire of his era. Sadler's Wells was her first foal. She would later also produce National Stakes winner Tate Gallery and successful breeding stallion Fairy King . The colt

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1728-400: The city was 96.18% White , 0.67% African American , 0.15% Native American , 0.35% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 1.34% from other races , and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.29% of the population. There were 3,160 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 14.4% had

1782-512: The early 1980s, they were noted for paying millions of dollars for the right yearling, entering in bidding duels with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai In 1976, Sangster, O'Brien and Magnier made one of their most important purchases for only $ 40,000 ($ 210,000 inflation adjusted )—a yearling filly by the little-known stallion Bold Reason . She was named Fairy Bridge and trained by O'Brien in Ireland, where she became

1836-524: The first time. Sadler%27s Wells (horse) Sadler's Wells (11 April 1981 – 26 April 2011) was an American-bred, Irish-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse and outstanding sire. He was the 1984 European Champion miler after winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas , Eclipse Stakes and Phoenix Champion Stakes in that year. He also finished second in the French Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes . Despite his success as

1890-568: The focus of a bloodstock boom in the 1970s and 1980s, where his progeny would sell for millions of dollars. Northern Dancer's other important offspring included Derby winners The Minstrel and Secreto and the brilliant El Gran Senor and Nureyev . Sadler's Wells was out of Fairy Bridge, who was sold as a yearling in 1976 at the Keeneland Sales to Sangster for $ 40,000 and became the Irish champion two-year-old filly of 1977. Sadler's Wells

1944-603: The leaders were subsequently lynched by a local militia company. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km ), all land. As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,668.7 people per square mile (1,030.4 people/km ). There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of 1,183.2 units per square mile (456.8 units/km ). The racial makeup of

1998-517: The leading sire in nine different countries. Most notably, Galileo became the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 2008, then won 11 titles in succession from 2010 to 2020. Montjeu was the leading sire in France for 2005, El Prado became Leading sire in North America in 2002, Fort Wood was a leading sire in South Africa, Opera House achieved success in Japan and High Chaparral became

2052-434: The leading sire list twelve times, unfortunately on the 10 July 2021 Galileo had to be euthanised. With the victory of Minding in the 2016 1000 Guineas , Galileo has sired at least one winner in each of British Classic Races . Several of Galileo's sons are currently standing at Coolmore, including classic winners Australia and Gleneagles . Although the stallion operation receives the most attention, Coolmore also maintains

2106-532: The mid-1970s, Coolmore became very active in the American sales market, displaying particular interest in the offspring of Northern Dancer . Their first significant purchase was The Minstrel , a dual classic winner in 1977. Other purchases included Alleged , Storm Bird , Caerleon , Be My Guest and El Gran Senor . The bidding duels between Coolmore and the Maktoum brothers of Dubai became legendary, leading to

2160-453: The number of stakes winners when Roman Saddle become his 177th stakes winner in July 2001. Mr. Prospector had held the previous record with 176 stakes winners. Sadler's Wells sired his 200th stakes winner in 2002, becoming the first stallion to achieve that landmark. However, Danehill then passed him, reaching the 300 stakes winner mark in 2005, a level Sadler's Wells would achieve in 2008. At

2214-421: The one-mile St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot , the colt was moved up in distance for the French Derby , a race O'Brien had won the previous year with Caerleon . Sadler's Wells took the lead in the straight but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten one and a half lengths by Darshaan , with Rainbow Quest in third. In July, Sadler's Wells was the only three-year-old in a field of nine runners for

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2268-660: The southern breeding season. Ashford Stud, located near Versailles, Kentucky , became a part of Coolmore in the mid-1980s. In 2001, Thunder Gulch was the first Ashford sire to top the American general sire listing. Giant's Causeway later became the leading sire in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Ashford also stands Uncle Mo , leading first year sire of 2015 and sire of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist . Whereas most stallions standing at Coolmore Ireland are now homebreds, most of those standing at Ashford Stud had their breeding rights purchased during their racing career. For example, in May 2015 it

2322-450: The space of 15 years. No stallion has come close to such dominance in Britain and Ireland – not even the legendary stallions which operated during the much less competitive eras of the 18th and 19th centuries. He was also dominant in that it was usually easy to spot one of his progeny. A dominant bay who sometimes passed on his prominent blaze and a sock or two, he also became synonymous with soundness and dependability." The horse's skeleton

2376-527: The time of his death in 2011, Sadler's Wells had sired 323 stakes winners, including 73 individual Group 1/ Grade I winners on the flat. He also sired several National Hunt winners, most notably Istabraq . c = colt , f = filly , g = gelding , Sadler's Wells was also a highly successful broodmare sire, leading that category in Great Britain and Ireland from 2005 to 2010, and the United States from 2008 to 2010. By 2010, his daughters had produced more than 250 stakes winners, including 30 in 2010 alone. He

2430-579: The top three positions in the Oaks. He also sired 14 winners of the Irish Classics . In 1999, his sons finished one-two-three in the Irish Derby. By 2001, his stud fee had increased to £200,000 with a book of roughly 200 mares each year. With the increased number of offspring each year, his number of stakes winners began to rapidly accelerate. Sadler's Wells briefly held the all-time record for

2484-471: The well known stud farm it is today. Vigors went into partnership with his friend Vincent O'Brien , a leading racehorse trainer, and Robert Sangster , the Vernons pools magnate. He later sold his interest to O'Brien and his son-in-law, John Magnier . Eventually, Magnier became sole owner, and built the farm into a multi-national, multibillion-euro operation. The farm currently occupies over 7000 acres. In

2538-413: Was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was US $ 35,052, and the median income for a family was $ 41,567. Males had a median income of $ 31,056 versus $ 24,488 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,489. About 11.1% of families and 14.0% of the population were below

2592-545: Was announced that Ashford Stud had purchased the breeding rights to American Pharoah from Ahmed Zayat in late 2014 for a reported $ 13.8 million. American Pharoah went on to become the first racehorse in 37 years to win the American Triple Crown , and the first ever to win the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing by winning the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic. Coolmore Australia, located near Jerrys Plains in

2646-415: Was her first live foal, followed by his full siblings Fairy King (who also became a successful sire despite injuring himself in his only race) and stakes winners Tate Gallery, Fairy Gold and Puppet Dance. Her final foal was Perugino, by Danzig, who became a sire in Australia. Fairy Bridge was the second foal of the mare Special, a full sister to European champion sprinter/miler Thatch and Lisadell, who won

2700-531: Was only the second string." Sadler's Wells next won the ten-furlong Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and was then brought back in distance for the Irish 2,000 Guineas over one mile, where he was ridden by George McGrath . In a closely contested finish, he won from the French-trained Procida and the favourite Secreto . The O'Brien-trained Capture Him, whom Eddery chose to ride in preference to Sadler's Wells, finished fourth. Instead of going for

2754-479: Was part of the original Coolmore partnership team with Tim Vigors and trainer Vincent O'Brien , later joined by John Magnier . They became active in the North American yearling auctions starting in the mid-1970s, purchasing and part-breeding notable horses like The Minstrel , Alleged , Golden Fleece and El Gran Senor , and creating a high demand for the offspring of Northern Dancer and Nijinsky . By

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2808-579: Was sent into training with Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle . Throughout his racing career, Sadler's Wells had a characteristic running style, galloping with his head at an unusually high angle. He was a well-balanced horse with good tactical speed standing 16  hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high. Even as a sire, he was noted for his laid-back, good-natured temperament, a trait he passed on to many of his offspring. Sadler's Wells made his first appearance in September at Leopardstown Racecourse in

2862-577: Was sent to Longchamp in October for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe , where he finished eighth behind Sagace . Sadler's Wells was given a rating of 90 by the International Classification, making him the sixth-best European horse in 1984. He earned a Timeform rating of 132 for his victory in the Eclipse Stakes. British breeder Bob McCreery would later say, "I was absolutely convinced Sadler's Wells

2916-410: Was the real deal. I always admired his guts. He was a very tough horse, and that's one thing I've really always tried to go for, courage. He was absolutely ideal, the ideal horse." In 1985, Sadler's Wells was syndicated by Coolmore for €800,000 a share (total value of €32m) and stood for an initial fee of IR£125,000. He was an immediate success when his first crop reached racing age in 1988, led by In

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