Haras Ojo de Agua

Racing silks of Haras Ojo de Agua
Type	Horse breeding farm and Thoroughbred racing stable
Industry	Thoroughbred horse racing
Headquarters	General Pueyrredón Partido

Haras Ojo de Agua was a Thoroughbred racehorse breeding and training farm in Argentina and is considered to be "one of the foremost Argentine stud farms of all time."^[1]

History

The land for Haras Ojo de Agua was purchased by Pedro Luro from the Argentine Rural Society in 1868.^[2] The name Ojo de Agua, meaning 'the eye of the water', was based on the natural spring on the property that produced 1,800,000 liters of water per day. In 1878, several Thoroughbred mares were imported from England to start the farm's breeding program.^[3] Gay Hermit was the first stallion imported to stand stud at Haras Ojo de Agua.^[4] Other well regarded stallions were later purchased and imported for the stud, including Cyllene, purchased for $125,000, and Polar Star, purchased for $90,000.^[5]

The farm was passed down to Santiago Luro, Pedro Luro's second son and two-time president of the Jockey Club Argentino.^[1][6]

In 1909, the farm covered 6,000 acres and had 98 broodmares.^[7] By 1914, Haras Ojo de Agua was the largest horse breeding farm in the world.^[8] In 1967, the number of broodmares on the property had increased to 180.^[3]

When owner Don Julio Victorica Roca died in 1955, his widow, Señora Victorica Roca, took over running the farm.^[3]

Haras Ojo de Agua was the champion racehorse owner in Argentina in 1979 and 1980.^[9]

In 1996, Haras Ojo de Agua was purchased by Dieter Meier and racing operations ceased.^[2][9]

Notable horses

References