The Jockey Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall as the first-ever Patron of The National Stud.

The Duchess of Cornwall has held a longstanding interest in equestrian sports and works with a wide number of organisations that help to promote racing education and welfare. She was appointed an Honorary Member of The Jockey Club in December 2015.

Based in Newmarket, The National Stud plays an important role in supporting Britain’s Thoroughbred breeding and racing industries. This includes training the next generation of stud staff and leaders through a series of qualifications and development courses that have led to a reputation as one of the leading industry education providers in the world.

The National Stud also provides a range of services to the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industries, including stallions, boarding, foaling, spelling and sales consignments. Six stallions will stand at The National Stud for the 2019 breeding season: Aclaim, Gregorian, Lancaster Bomber, Marcel, Rajasinghe and Time Test.

The stud originated in 1916 in County Kildare in Ireland as a result of a gift by William Hall Walker – later Lord Wavertree – to the British Government. The National Stud transferred to its present location in Newmarket in 1963. In 2016, Her Majesty The Queen planted a centenary tree at The National Stud in her capacity as Patron of The Jockey Club.

The National Stud has been part of The Jockey Club since 2008. The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter to act for the good of British horseracing, reinvesting all profits to support the sport’s long-term health. British Racing contributes an estimated £3.45 billion to the UK economy each year* and supports more than 85,000 jobs. It is the nation’s second-biggest spectator sport with attendances regularly exceeding six million people.

The Jockey Club appointed Chairman of The National Stud is The Duke of Roxburghe (Guy Innes-Ker) and the Stud Director is Tim Lane.

 

Roger Weatherby, Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, said:

“We are honoured Her Royal Highness has accepted our invitation to become the first Patron of The National Stud. We greatly appreciate her support for an organisation which plays such an important role in Britain’s Thoroughbred breeding industry and training the next generation of stud staff and leaders. The Duchess’s love of horses and horseracing is well known, and we would like to build relationships between The National Stud and Her Royal Highness’s other equestrian and education patronages, including Ebony Horse Club.”