AUCTAV acquired historic walls to write its destiny. Spread over 312 hectares, the Haras de Bois Roussel was one of the largest stud farms in France. Established in 1802 by the Roederer family, it was successively occupied by prominent breeders such as Henry Delamarre, the "captain" J.-D. Cohn, Léon Volterra, Countess Batthyany, and more recently by the broodmares of the Wildenstein family and the yearlings of Jean-Pierre Dubois. Bois Roussel also saw the birth of great champions like Vermouth, Teddy, Sir Galahad – ancestor of Montjeu, Bois Roussel, Vatellor, and Plucky Liège. It's also where Peinture Rare ended her life, the legendary dam of Peintre Célèbre who won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Back to origins

In 1859, Count Pierre Roederer established a stud farm on part of the Bois Roussel estate that his grandfather, Count Pierre-Louis Roederer, had acquired in 1814. He partnered with Henry Delamare and success was immediate: Vermouth won the Grand Prix de Paris (1860), Boïard won the Prix du Jockey Club (1873), the Royal Oak, the Grand Prix de Paris (1874), the Prix du Cadran, and the Ascot Gold Cup. Bois Roussel, Prologue, and Patricien were other stars of the breeding operation.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Bois Roussel was taken over by Countess de Rochefort, daughter of Count Pierre Roederer. After World War I, she leased the entire stud farm to Jefferson Davis Cohn, an American who invested in breeding and racing. He sent his own mares to stallion Bursard: Plucky Liège, dam of 1935 Epsom Derby winner Bois Roussel and Teddy, born in 1913 and dam of champions: Sir Gallahad and Bull Dog, outstanding stallions sent back to the United States. In France, only one descendant is known: Aethesltan (see The Chemoitou Stud Farm).

In 1932, passionate breeder Léon Volterra bought the stock, notably Jumbo, Royal Oak (1933), Admiral Drake, Grand Prix de Paris (1934), and Mary Tudor, Poule d'Essai (1934). Upon Léon Volterra's death in 1949, his breeding operation was transferred to the Orne stud farm, then managed by his widow. Countess de Rochefort thus resumed the management of Bois Roussel, but the stud farm only regained its fame in 1970 when Countess Margit Batthyány purchased it. Her horses triumphed: Caro (born in 1967), winner of the Prix Ganay, d'Ispahan, d'Harcourt, and Dollar; Gift Card (born in 1969), winner of the Prix Perth, Dollar, and Prince of Wales's Stakes; San San, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1972); Marlia (famous broodmare); Sword Dancer (stallion born in 1956 in the United States and based in France in 1970), 15-times winner.

In 1974, Countess Margit Batthyány sold part of her breeding operation, but the Bois Roussel stud farm achieved new victories, notably with Almeira, winner of the G1 Marcel Boussac (1983). In contemporary times, the Deroubaix family, particularly Marcel Deroubaix, has long overseen the management of Bois Roussel. At the end of the 20th century, broodmares such as Nono Nanette, Royal Model, Matuschka, and Campione grazed in the paddocks around the stud farm. Stallions also stood there: Pharly, Comely, and Shafaraz. The success of Bois Roussel is due to the quality of its pastures and its great owner-breeders!