Haras d'Ouilly
Encyclopedia
The Haras d'Ouilly is a renowned horse breeding
farm in Pont-d'Ouilly
, Calvados
in the Basse-Normandie
region of France
established in the 19th century.
The property was purchased in 1895 by Auguste-Louis-Albéric, prince d'Arenberg
for his son Pierre d' Arenberg who built the stables and established it as a horse breeding operation.
Haras d'Ouilly was acquired by the Louis Jean Decazes
in 1916. He acquired several top broodmares and in 1918 purchased the prominent sire Prince Palatine
from the English
breeder Jack Barnato Joel
. In 1921 Decazes partnered with François Dupré
who would purchase 100% of Haras d'Ouilly in 1930.
François Dupré would turn Haras d'Ouilly into a powerhouse of Europe
an racing, running it until his death in 1966 when his widow took over. Anna Dupré continued to race horses until 1977 when she sold her bloodstock to the Aga Khan IV
. In 1981, she sold the property to Jean-Luc Lagardère
who too was a leading figure in French racing until his death in 2003 after which it was sold to the Aga Khan IV.
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
farm in Pont-d'Ouilly
Pont-d'Ouilly
Pont-d'Ouilly is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Pont-d'Ouilly is home to the famous Haras d'Ouilly, a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding business currently owned by the Aga Khan IV.-History:...
, Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
in the Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
established in the 19th century.
The property was purchased in 1895 by Auguste-Louis-Albéric, prince d'Arenberg
Auguste-Louis-Albéric, prince d'Arenberg
Auguste-Louis-Albéric, prince d'Arenberg was a French noble and monarchist politician, born in Paris. Third son of Pierre d'Alcantara Charles Marie, duc d'Arenberg and Alix de Talleyrand-Périgord, he inherited his father's title because of his older brothers' premature deaths.He was noted for his...
for his son Pierre d' Arenberg who built the stables and established it as a horse breeding operation.
Haras d'Ouilly was acquired by the Louis Jean Decazes
Louis Jean, duc Decazes
Louis Jean Victor Sévère Decazes de Glücksberg, 4th Duc Decazes and 4th Hertig af Glücksbierg was a French businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder.Louis Jean Decazes was born in Paris...
in 1916. He acquired several top broodmares and in 1918 purchased the prominent sire Prince Palatine
Prince Palatine
Prince Palatine was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was named for County Palatine of Lancaster near where his breeder William Hall Walker had been raised....
from the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
breeder Jack Barnato Joel
Jack Barnato Joel
Jack Barnato Joel was a South African mining magnate and a champion horse breeder.-Biography:He was born on 29 September 1862. He had two brothers, Solomon Barnato Joel and Woolf Joel.-References:...
. In 1921 Decazes partnered with François Dupré
François Dupré
François Dupré was a French, hotelier, art collector, and owner of the thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farm, Haras d'Ouilly....
who would purchase 100% of Haras d'Ouilly in 1930.
François Dupré would turn Haras d'Ouilly into a powerhouse of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an racing, running it until his death in 1966 when his widow took over. Anna Dupré continued to race horses until 1977 when she sold her bloodstock to the Aga Khan IV
Aga Khan IV
Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
. In 1981, she sold the property to Jean-Luc Lagardère
Jean-Luc Lagardère
Jean-Luc Lagardère was a major French businessman, CEO of the Lagardere Group, one of the largest French conglomerates....
who too was a leading figure in French racing until his death in 2003 after which it was sold to the Aga Khan IV.