Ballydoyle

Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier. The current trainer at Ballydoyle is Aidan O'Brien, who succeeded Vincent O'Brien (no relation) in 1995. The stables are renowned for their exceptionally high attention to detail and world class facilities used in the preparation of Horses throughout their racing career at Ballydoyle. The primary gallop at Ballydoyle is said to be based on the turns and undulations of Epsom Downs Racecourse, perhaps with the intention of giving Ballydoyle trained runners a key advantage in a race in which many future Coolmore Stud stallions are made. The recently opened Giants Causeway stable (named after the champion racehorse who was resident at Ballydoyle) is hotel like in its appearance and caters for all the demands of the thoroughbred. Given that at any one time there could be in excess of $100m worth of bloodstock in the stables, security is very tight at Ballydoyle and the yard is not open for visitors.

Vincent O'Brien had trained such household names as Nijinsky and Sadler's Wells at Ballydoyle, and was a tough act to follow, but Aidan O'Brien has measured up to those high standards by training many top class horses, such as Rock of Gibraltar, Galileo, High Chaparral and George Washington.