Bloodstock Briefing: Meddler falls victim to market forces.
MEDDLER STUD near Newmarket, home this year to Most Welcome and Rock Hopper as well as Australian visitor Hurricane Sky, is to close shortly.No firm decisions have been made about new homes for the stallions, although the BBA-managed Most Welcome is likely to stay in the Newmarket area, while Rock Hopper remains the property of Gainsborough Stud. Meddler is not taking up its option to stand Hurricane Sky in 1999.
Meddler, based at Kentford just outside Newmarket, has been owned and run as a stallion base by the Leach family for over 80 years, and by Bill Leach in particular since the mid-'50s. Under him, it has been home to the popular sprint-oriented stallions Blue Cashmere, Balidar and Burglar. But the state of the stallion market lies behind Leach's decision to close.
Leach, a former vice- chairman of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, said: "The reason for closing the stud is purely commercial. I just cannot buy new stallions off the racetrack at a price that is viable for the UK market. Even with an Australian partner, the Irish are able to outbid us by a considerable margin.
"We are suffering from Irish competition in a number of ways. Firstly, large numbers of British-owned mares are now going to Ireland.
"Secondly, they have successfully penetrated the Australian market. We cannot buy new stallions to keep English mares at home if, with all their concessions [including tax], the Irish can always outbid us.
"Britain is desperately uncompetitive on an international basis and the position has deteriorated every year for the past 40 years."
The stud's closure signals a sad day for its staff, many of whom have been at Meddler for their entire working lives.
Leach himself will continue to live at, and operate other businesses from, Meddler and will endeavour to let the land, which runs to 250 acres.
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| Title Annotation: | Sports |
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| Author: | Hickman, Janet |
| Publication: | The Racing Post (London, England) |
| Date: | Oct 14, 1998 |
| Words: | 309 |
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