The prime Bluegrass Region surrounding the city of Lexington, Kentucky in the center of the eastern half of the United States is where Shadwell Farm has enjoyed many great achievements. This location of limestone-rich soil and rolling hillsides has made the Bluegrass the world’s premier locale for raising thoroughbreds. Here, His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Farm produces an amazing array of talented runners. At the Farm’s stallion division, H.E. Sheikh Hamdan offers some of his best colts to breeders to help ensure not only Shadwell’s influence for generations to come but also to give breeders the opportunity to reach this same goal.
In 1984, H.E. Sheikh Hamdan selected, purchased, and began construction on 720 acres near Lexington. Today, the farm encompasses over 3,400 acres. The Farm was designed to accommodate 100 to 125 mares and their offspring through their yearling year. The wisdom of H.E. Sheikh Hamdan is apparent in every facet of Shadwell Farm. Rick Nichols, the Farm’s Vice President and General Manager, comments, "H.E. Sheikh Hamdan is the best all around horseman I have met. His knowledge of the horse industry is expansive. He possesses not only a tremendous eye for a good individual animal but also superior knowledge of pedigrees and breeding concerns. His keen interest in racing is part of that success – he knows the competition well. He also understands how breeding farms operate and often visits his mares and foals. He genuinely loves his horses."
It is a great honor for Nichols to work closely with H.E. Sheikh Hamdan who personally reviews and approves ideas, or designs concepts, and plans construction. Nichols comments, "He is a great leader. Shadwell’s global success is the result of his hands-on management. With racing and breeding programs in Ireland, England and America, H.E. Sheikh Hamdan pulls everything together into one successful unit."
Success has come to H.E. Sheikh Hamdan as a result of his skill at assembling all the necessary ingredients for a top-notch program. He bought the best land available and built an outstanding facility. He owns many of the world’s best broodmares and breeds them to top stallions. He employs qualified professionals and provides the necessary leadership to achieve his goals. Under his guidance, Shadwell Farm, in a short time has produced the winners of eight classic races: Epsom Derby and English Guineas winner NASHWAN; Epsom Derby winner ERHAAB; English One Thousand Guineas winners SHADAYID and HARAYIR; Irish One Thousand Guineas winner MEHTHAAF; English Oaks winner SNOW BRIDE; and French One Thousand Guineas winner TA RIB. In addition, BAHRI’S Arc winning son SAKHEE came within inches of winning the 2000 Epsom Derby. In the winter of 2005 Shadwell acquired the Uruguayan Triple Crown winner, INVASOR (Arg), who went on to capture Shadwell’s first Grade I victory in the United States while winning The Pimlico Special (GR-1) in his American debut. Continuing his U.S. racing campaign INVASOR (Arg) proved his superstardom by dominating the Suburban Handicap (GR-1), the Whitney Handicap and ended 2006 with his stunning victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. JAZIL brought Sheikh Hamdan’s blue and white colors to the forefront when he conquered one of the greatest American Classic Grade I races, the Belmont Stakes. It marked the first Classic victory for the Shadwell Stable as JAZIL performed like a seasoned professional. To date, racehorses from Shadwell Farm in Kentucky have carried H.E. Sheikh Hamdan’s famous blue and white silks to victory in more than 80 Graded or Group races worldwide.
The farm is organized into several departments, each with specific responsibilities and overseen by Farm Manager, Gregory Clarke and Assistant Farm Manager, Jody Dunlap. These crews look after one of the most prestigious broodmare bands in the world including classic winners MEHTHAAF and ESWARAH and classic producers HISTOIRE (FR) and SAFFAANH. Of course, one mare that will always be remembered is the legendary HEIGHT OF FASHION (FR) who produced UNFUWAIN and NASHWAN. HEIGHT OF FASHION (FR)’s legacy lives on as she proved her dominance for H.E. Sheikh Hamdan by giving him her last foal the versatile NAYEF who was victorious in the 2001 Group I Dubai Champion Stakes, in 2002 the Group I Dubai Sheema Classic and the Group I Juddmonte International Stakes, and his magnificent victory in the 2003 Group I Prince of Wales Stakes. Recently, H.E. Sheikh Hamdan has made several high caliber additions to his already impressive broodmare family. Among these are DESSERT, GOLDEN APPLES (Champion Grass mare at 4), HABIBTI, and MAGICAL ALLURE, all of which are superior Group 1 winners. These mares along with many more have established the prominent ranks of Shadwell’s broodmare band. Nichols expresses the pride shared by the Farm’s employees, “It is such a great honor to work with these royally bred animals.
The Yearling Department sprawls out over 1,500 acres and is home to foals from the time they are weaned until they are exported in September or October of their yearling year to one of H.E. Sheikh Hamdan’s training centers. The Yearling Department’s activities are conducted in two locations at the farm. Initially raised on the main farm, the young horses are then sent to our Yearling Department located at Shadayid Stud, which was named in honor of our 1,000 Guineas winner SHADAYID. This department is a crucial element in the successful production of racehorses for H.E. Sheikh Hamdan’s racing stable. This area is under the supervision of Tim Miller.
Nashwan Stud, which opened in 1991 is Shadwell’s stallion facility named after the first homebred classic winner raised at the farm. Nashwan is home to seven stallions, ALJABR, DAYJUR, DUMAANI, INTIDAB, KAYRAWAN, SAHM, and SWAIN (Ire) and is managed by Kent Barnes. These stallions are predominately homebreds, which campaigned internationally for H.E. Sheikh Hamdan or Godolphin.
The tough consistent ALJABR, foaled and raised at Shadwell Farm was campaigned by Godolphin, is the only son of Storm Cat to win Group I races at the ages of 2, 3, and 4.
The first stallion to retire to the new Nashwan Stud in 1991 was the exceptionally quick DAYJUR. This multiple sprint champion is a son of Danzig and the American champion sprinter Gold Beauty, by Mr. Prospector. A true international sire, DAYJUR has sired 50 stakes horses in ten countries, with lifetime earnings of over 18 million dollars and has made a name for himself as a prominent broodmare sire.
DUMAANI, another son of Danzig out of Group I winner Desirable (Ire), proved his worth by winning stakes races on three continents with earnings over $1 million dollars. His North American stakes wins include consecutive runnings of the Keeneland Breeders’ Cup Mile, now known as the Shadwell Turf Mile (GR-1).
INTIDAB was one of the best sprinters of his generation. The son of Phone Trick out of the Mr. Prospector mare Alqwani, won both the True North Handicap (GR-2) and the A Phenomenon Handicap (GR-2).
The ultra classy Mr. Prospector colt, KAYRAWAN, won the prestigious Tom Fool Handicap - Grade 2 at Belmont Park. He is out of the Grade 3 winning daughter of Blushing Groom, Muhbubh.
SAHM was a consistent performer on the dirt and turf, finishing first or second in ten of his eleven starts, including his record performance in the Knickerbocker Handicap (GR. 2). He is the product of sending Sheikh Hamdan’s brilliant race filly Salsabil to the great Mr. Prospector.
Multiple champion and globetrotting sensation, SWAIN (IRE) was foaled in Ireland and raced for Godolphin, after winning nearly $4 million dollars and accolades from the greatest races around the world.
In addition to skilled horsemen, H.E. Sheikh Hamdan employs professionals to ensure a safe and healthy environment for raising horses. Shadwell Farm’s Agriculture and Maintenance Department is managed by Scott Clemons. His crew oversees construction projects on the farm in addition to the awesome task of painting and maintaining miles of fence and numerous structures. The Agricultural Department has planted over 30,000 trees to enhance the beauty and quality of the farm and takes care of all plant life throughout the farm’s 3,400 acres, including the pastures and grasses.
H.E. Sheikh Hamdan has worked very hard and carefully planned each detail of his operation. Few individuals have put into the horse business as much effort as H.E. Sheikh Hamdan. The success he derives from Shadwell Farm is well earned and very well deserved.