Working with Godolphin Ireland
You can explore our current vacancies here.
Working with Godolphin Ireland offers the chance to be part of one of the world’s leaders in the horseracing and breeding industry, with access to top-tier facilities, career development opportunities and a passionate community. It's a place where your passion for horses can align with your professional aspirations, making it an appealing choice for those seeking a fulfilling and rewarding career in the industry.
Prestigious reputation: Godolphin is a globally renowned and respected name in the horseracing and breeding industry. Associating yourself with such a prestigious organisation can significantly enhance your professional reputation and open doors to exciting opportunities within the industry.
World-class facilities: Godolphin Ireland boasts top facilities, including excellent training centres and breeding farms. As an employee, you'll have access to these world-class amenities, which can provide an enriching and dynamic work environment.
Career development: Godolphin Ireland is committed to the development and growth of its employees. We provide training programmes, workshops and mentorship opportunities to help you advance your career. Working at Godolphin Ireland can be an excellent platform for personal and professional development.
Passionate community: Horseracing and breeding attracts individuals who are deeply passionate about their work. By joining Godolphin Ireland, you'll become a part of a community that shares your enthusiasm for horses and the racing industry, creating a supportive and motivating work environment.
Variety of roles: Godolphin Ireland offers a wide range of roles across various aspects of the company: horse care, administration, farm work, security, house-keeping and maintenance.
International exposure: Godolphin operates on a global scale, with operations and facilities in multiple countries. Joining Godolphin Ireland could open doors to international career opportunities, allowing you to work with colleagues and horses from around the world.
Commitment to excellence: Godolphin Ireland has a longstanding commitment to excellence, both in the care of their horses and in their business operations. Working for a company with such a strong dedication to quality and integrity can be personally fulfilling and professionally rewarding.
Location, location, location
Godolphin Ireland, the company, now comprises five County Kildare farms plus one in County Meath and two in County Tipperary. The combined property portfolio is almost 4,500 acres.
Kildangan Stud
Kildangan is home to Darley’s Irish-based stallions. It is also used as a breaking and training centre for the majority of Godolphin yearlings in Ireland. The fertile limestone-based soil of Kildangan – with lush pastures, water rich in calcium and undulating grounds with the shelter of ancient oak, ash and beech trees – provides the ideal environment for all horses. The farm extends to almost 1,500 acres.
At Kildangan the new buildings have been kept in harmony with the old architecture of the original house and stable yard, both built in the 1880s. Today there are 20 separate horse yards with combined accommodation for more than 400 horses. Whitefield Yard, the purpose-built foaling unit, is special. Two Epsom Derby winners have been born here – Shaamit and High-Rise. Other famous horses born in these stables include Mark of Esteem, Swain, Cape Cross and Singspiel.
Agricultural activities play an integral part of stud farming enterprises. At Kildangan a sizable herd of beef cattle graze the lush pastures alongside the horses, acreage is devoted to making the stud self sufficient in hay. The farmyard at Harristown has a compost facility to convert stable bedding into organic fertiliser.
The Kildangan Office Building is the administrative headquarters for the Irish operation. Enquiries regarding nominations, mare registration, accounts, personnel or any other matters should be directed to this location.
Old Connell Stud
Old Connell Stud was purchased in 1990. It had previously been owned by the Loder Family and was sold by Sir Edmund Loder of Eyrefield Lodge Stud, a descendant of Major Eustace Loder. Major Loder was a close personal friend of King Edward VII and Old Connell became very successful during his tenure. The first two stallions to stand at Old Connell Stud were Epsom Derby winners - Spearmint, owned by Major Eustace Loder, in 1906 and Spion Kop, owned and bred by Major Giles Loder, in 1920. Further Group One winners bred by the Loder family included Pretty Polly, Marwell, Marling and Caerwent.
Old Connell is located on the old Dublin Road side of Newbridge town, it is a farm of just over 500 acres with six horse yards. The farm raises 55 company yearlings annually.
Dubawi (IRE), Street Cry (IRE) and Farhh (GB) to name a few have been raised here.
Ballymany Stud
Ballymany Stud was purchased in 1992. It had previously been owned by H.H. The Aga Khan and his family when it was purchased from Sir Henry Greer. During the ownership of the present Aga Khan, Shergar, his dual Epsom/Irish Derby winner, who had retired to stud at Ballymany in 1982, was stolen from there in 1983 and has never been recovered.
Located on the edge of the Curragh Racecourse and next to the town of Newbridge, Ballymany is a farm of just under 200 acres. With six separate horse yards. For many years it has been home for the retired company mares. Pastorale (GB), Dam of Iffraaj (GB) spent her retirement in Ballymany until the fine age of 32 years old. It is also used as a base for any Godolphin runners staying over for racing in Ireland.
Ragusa Stud
Ragusa Stud was purchased in 1989. It was previously owned by Mr & Mrs James R. Mullion of Ardenode Stud who were of Scottish extraction and who had extensive interests in the Hong Kong international shipping business. Ragusa was the commercial side of their Irish stud business and was so named after their Irish Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner of the same name in 1963. Ragusa, a son of Ribot, was trained by P J 'Darkie' Prendergast and also went on to win the St Leger and the Eclipse Stakes. Ragusa is located in Ballymore Eustace, the farm comprises 400 acres with five horse yards. Annually the farm boards 50 company mares - 40 with foals at foot during the breeding season. Oh So Sharp (USA), Love Smitten (CAN), Eastern Joy (GB) all called Ragusa Stud home.
Blackhall Stud
Blackhall was purchased in 1991 from the Phillips family. It became a stud farm in the early part of the 20th century when it was owned by Captain Dunne and his family. In the 1940s it was sold briefly to the Myerscough family who in turn sold it to Lord William Astor in the early 1950s who purchased it on his own behalf and that of his silent partners, Sir Harold and Lady Zia Wernher, owners of the historic Luton Hoo Estate in England. Following Lord Astor’s death in 1966 the farm was bought outright by the Wernhers. After the death of Lady Zia in 1977, Blackhall was inherited by her grandson, Nicholas Phillips, whose untimely death in 1991 led to its sale. At the same time the Wernher/Philipps property, Someries Stud in Newmarket was acquired by Godolphin.
Blackhall is located on the Sallins side of Clane Village, it comprises 350 acres with three horse yards, there are 45 company yearlings raised annually on the farm.
It is the former home to many a famous resident including Dubai Millennium (GB), Masar (IRE) and Coroebus (IRE).
Woodpark Stud
Woodpark was purchased by the McVey Family in 1939 from Mrs Benson (the former Miss Peard, a name long associated with Phoenix Park Racecourse). Over the following 30 years the McVeys stood the stallions Balidar, Bright News, Tamerlane, Tower Walk, Solferino and Sunny Way. In 1977 James McVey sold the farm to a Mr Fitzpatrick who used it as a grazing farm for cattle. Woodpark Stud was purchased from Fitzpatrick in November 1982 on behalf of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed. In April 1989 the farm transferred to H.H. Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud Company. Following the death of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum in 2006, the farm transferred to the Kildangan operation on behalf of Godolphin.
Woodpark Stud is located just outside Dunboyne and it is a farm of 670 acres. The farm has six principal horse yards/locations. Woodpark foals the majority of company-owned mares and carries some 40 mares and foals during the breeding season. Around 20 yearlings are also raised annually on the farm.
Once home to Ultra (IRE), Thunder Snow (IRE) and Raffle Prize (IRE).
Ballysheehan Stud
The various owners of Ballysheehan can be traced as far back as 1550. In more recent times it belonged to the Williams family and was purchased from them by trainer Vincent O'Brien in 1971. It was given by him to his youngest daughter Jane and her husband Phillip Myerscough in the early 1980s. It was subsequently acquired from them by the Gainsborough Company in 1998 and following the death of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum in 2006 became part of the Kildangan Stud operation.
Ballysheehan is located near the historic town of Cashel. The farm is 700 acres with six principal horse yards. Some 60 company yearlings are raised annually on the farm.
Some famous residents include Tiger Roll (IRE), Modern Games (IRE) and Space Blues (IRE).
Victor Stud
The 170-acre Victor Stud in Golden, County Tipperary, was purchased from Tom and Cathy Burns in 2015. As with most stud properties purchased by the company across the world Victor has a long history of producing talented racehorses. That list includes Group One winner Kinnaird, the speedy Majestic Missile and Hatton’s Grace – winner of the Champion Hurdle in 1949, 1950 and 1951. The stud was a yearling consignor at European sales during the Burns’s ownership. It continues its role as a thoroughbred nursery as it is now home to around 30 Godolphin-owned young stock.
