Belair Stud

Belair Stud was an American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm founded by Provincial Governor of Maryland Samuel Ogle in 1747 in Collington, Prince George's County, Maryland, in Colonial America.

Queen Mab and Spark were the first pair of English-bred Thoroughbred horses imported to the Province of Maryland. Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, gave Spark to Ogle by during Ogle's trip to England in 1740; the Prince of Wales presented the gift to Ogle. Later, Benjamin Tasker, Jr., brought Selima to Belair, where she became a prominent producer.

In 1898 the property was sold to the wealthy New York City banker James T. Woodward. who built large new stables in 1907. On his death his will bequeathed the property to his nephew, William Woodward, Sr., who built Belair Stud and Stable into the preeminent United States racing and breeding operation during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

During World War I, American horsemen were able to purchase well-bred foals from French breeders who could not afford to feed them during the extremely difficult war years. Some were bought directly by breeders while many were purchased by brokers who immediately resold them in America at the various Thoroughbred auctions. As such, William Woodward, Sr. was able to build his broodmare band on French imports.

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