Group 1 Owner/Breeder Lord Rothschild Dies At 87

Thursday, February 29, 2024 | 11:40 am

Updated: February 29, 2024 at 5:27 pm

LONDON - MARCH 16: (UK MAGAZINES OUT. EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Lord Jacob de Rothschild attends the Belle Epoque Gala Dinner, in celebration of the exhibition 'Americans in Paris 1860-1900', at The National Gallery on March 16, 2006 in London, England. The event was the first fundraising event of this type in the gallery's 182-year history, and the art auction conducted by Sotheby's raised GBP311,000 pounds for the gallery. It included donated works by some of Britain's most important living artists, including Frank Auerbach, Sir Peter Blake, Marc Quinn, Leon Kossoff, RB Kitaj, Ana Maria Pacheco and Maggi Hambling, the National Gallery's first artist-in-residence. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

Successful owner/breeder Lord Jacob Rothschild, who found Group 1 riches as a co-owner with Nathaniel (Ire) among others, died at the age of 87 earlier this week, according to multiple reports.

The fourth Baron Rothschild, OM, was prominent in both banking and finance, and also was active on the art scene. The chairman of the trustees of the National Gallery from 1985 to 1991, he operated his bloodstock interests out of Waddesdon Stud in Buckinghamshire with his late wife Serena. Later appointed the chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Rothschild partnered with the National Trust and turned Waddesdon Manor into a historical landmark open to the public housing an extensive art collection.

Many luminaries of the turf have carried the navy and yellow silks to glory, including G1 Pretty Polly S. victress Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk). In Nathaniel's case, his dam, G3 Musidora S. heroine Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk), was purchased privately after delivering six stakes winners. During her time at stud for Rothschild, she left both the now-Newsells Park Stud-based Group 1 sire Nathaniel, who won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., as well as the G1 Eclipse S. and Great Heavens (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The last-named mare won the G1 Irish Oaks. Pounced (Rahy) also represented Rothschild when taking the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in 2009.

Rothschild was pre-deceased by his wife, who died in 2019. He is survived by his son Nathaniel, who is now the fifth Baron Rothschild, and three daughters–Hannah, Beth, and Emily and their families.