NATIONAL STUD : Jockey Club to take full control

National Stud is set to come under full control of the Jockey Club after the British Government indicated an intention to transfer ownership of the stud for the benefit of the horseracing industry, according to PA Sport. Currently managed by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the 500-acre site, situated alongside Newmarket’s July racecourse, will continue to offer training in stud management as well as managing the five resident stallions Bahamian Bounty (GB), Cockney Rebel (Ire), Pastoral Pursuits (GB), Phoenix Reach (Ire) and Val Royal (Fr). The latter will resume stallion duties in April after recently undergoing surgery for colic.

“I am pleased the Jockey Club has agreed to take on ownership of the National Stud,” the Government’s Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe told PA Sport. “This means first-class training in stud management will continue and, importantly, the facility will be managed by an organisation dedicated to the improvement of horseracing. This move is also part of our wider policy of ending our direct involvement in the administration and financing of horseracing.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News