 Racing silks of Haras Don Alberto | |
| Company type | Horse breeding farm and Thoroughbred racing stable |
|---|---|
| Industry | Thoroughbred horse racing |
| Founded | 1987 |
Haras Don Alberto (also Stud Haras Don Alberto, Don Alberto Stables) is a thoroughbred racehorse breeding and training farm from Chile that has expanded to include operations in Argentina, England, and the United States. It is a subsidiary of Bethia Holding. [1]
Alberto Solari Magnasco founded Haras Tarapacá, which went on to become a successful and notable racehorse farm in Chile. Haras Tarapacá produced notable Chilean racehorses including descendants of the stallion Monterey who was frequently on the leading sire list. Among these were Malhoa, winner of the Tanteo de Potrancas, Clásico El Derby, and Clásico St. Leger, and Megere, winner of the Clásico Arturo Lyon Peña and Clásico Nacional Ricardo Lyon. [2]
In 1987, Alberto's daughter Liliana Solari Falabella, with her sons Andrea and Carlos Heller Solari, purchased land near Los Ángeles, Chile, to found Haras Don Alberto. [3] The farm was named after Alberto Solari Magnasco. [4] The land is low in selenium, requiring the horses to be supplemented. [5]
By 1990, the farm made the list of leading Chilean breeders, ranking at 26th. [6]
In 1994, farming, dairy, and cargo transportation were added to operations and the overall operation became The Bethia Group, named after the farm's first winning racehorse, with Haras Don Alberto as a subsidiary. In 2001, The Bethia Group became a limited public company named Bethia Holding. [1]
Don Alberto purchased the notable Chilean stud farm Haras Matancilla, doubling its holdings in Chile. [7] By 2013, the farm had 300 mares. [8]
On October 11, 2013, Haras Don Alberto paid $13.82 million for Dr. Tom Simon's 417-acre Vinery Stud in Lexington, Kentucky. [1] The purchase increased the farm's American holdings to 1300 acres. [3] Later that year, Haras Don Alberto was the leading buyer by expenditures at the Keeneland November Bloodstock Sale, purchasing 32 horses for $10.64 million. Five more mares were purchased for $2.95 million at Fasig-Tipton. At Tattersalls, 6 horses were purchased for 1.77 million guineas, with the mare Chrysanthemum (in foal to Frankel) being purchased afterward in a private treaty. [9]
In 2016, the farm expanded into Argentina. Three years later, after disappointing results, they withdrew from Argentina moving the horses there to Chile. [10]
The farm had its first Grade 1 win in the United States in 2017, [11] when Unique Bella won the La Brea Stakes. [12]
When Haras La Biznaga was liquidated in 2018, Haras Don Alberto purchased 6 of the 10 highest-selling lots, including record-setting Argentine purchases of Giant Remex and Giant Marked for $260,000 each. [13]
By 2019, the Chilean farm had 400 mares and was producing about 300 foals a year, [14] and the Lexington farm had 125 mares. [15]
Haras Don Alberto purchased the most expensive yearling in the United States in 2021, a $2.6 million colt by Into Mischief out of Paola Queen, by Flatter. [11]
The farm had its first US-bred G1 winner in 2023 when Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes. [11] That year, the farm was fifth on the American list of leading breeders [16] and led the Chilean breeders list. [17]
(excluding horses also bred)
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