Windsor Park Stud facts for kids
Windsor Park Stud is a special farm in New Zealand where fast racehorses, called thoroughbreds, are bred. It started in 1988 near a town called Cambridge on the North Island of New Zealand, in a region known as Waikato.
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What is Windsor Park Stud?
Windsor Park Stud is a very large farm dedicated to breeding and raising thoroughbred horses. These horses are known for their speed and are often used in horse racing. The farm covers about 1,300 acres, which is like having over 980 football fields! This big area is spread across three different locations.
Who Started Windsor Park Stud?
The farm was first started by Ian and Jesse Duncan. Later, in 1971, the ownership of the farm changed to Nelson and Sue Schick and their son, Rodney. They have continued to make Windsor Park Stud a very successful place for breeding top racehorses.
Famous Horses from Windsor Park Stud
Windsor Park Stud is known for having many amazing horses, both stallions (male horses used for breeding) and their offspring (the foals born at the farm).
Top Stallions at the Stud
Over the years, many famous and successful stallions have lived and bred at Windsor Park Stud. These include:
- Charm Spirit, a horse that won a big race in France called a G1.
- Falkirk
- High Chaparral, who was a "shuttle stallion," meaning he traveled between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres for breeding.
- Kaapstad
- Mongolian Khan, a champion who won important races like the Australian Derby, New Zealand Derby, and Caulfield Cup.
- Pour Moi, who won the famous Epsom Derby race in 2011.
- Rageese
- Rip Van Winkle, another horse who won two big G1 races in Europe.
- Shamexpress
- Turn Me Loose
- Vanbrugh
- Volksraad, who was the top breeding stallion in New Zealand six times!
Champion Horses Born at the Stud
Many incredible racehorses were born at Windsor Park Stud. These horses have gone on to win major races around the world. Some of them are:
- Beauty Flash, a G1 winner in Hong Kong.
- Gold Onyx, who won a G1 race in South Africa.
- Might And Power, a super famous horse who was named the best horse in Australia twice. He won the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in 1997, and the Cox Plate in 1998.
- Monaco Consol, a winner of the Victoria Derby.
- Military Move, who won the New Zealand Derby.
- So You Think, another very well-known and successful racehorse.
Windsor Park Stud and Horse Racing
Windsor Park Stud also supports horse racing by sponsoring events. They have sponsored the Windsor Park Plate, which is one of the important races in the Hawkes Bay triple crown series held every September. This shows their commitment to the sport of horse racing in New Zealand.