Inside Martinstown Stud - home to some of the biggest names in horse racing

MARTINSTOWN Stud has been described as a “holiday camp” for race horses, a place where they can unwind for a life of retirement or some R&R after the racing season.

Set on 400 acres in County Limerick, it’s home to some of the biggest names in horse racing such as Istabraq, Minella Times and the recently crowned Irish Grand National winner, I Am Maximus. 

The care and treatment of the long term residents as well as visiting guests is second to none, something that Barn Manager, Julie O’Connell over sees in the Stephenstown Barn. 

“It's like a holiday camp the night they come and they switch off and they get their tendons checked and the dentist and then our vet comes up once a week, to check them over. They go out the fields for a couple of weeks and they're just different horses when they come back in, they know they're coming back in for their job. They love it,” she said. 

Under her barn roof are horses such as Don't Push It, On The Fringe, Binocular, Jet Ski, My Tent Or Yours and Jonbon will be returning soon, all who are unique in their own right. 

“They all have their different characters and they're all very sweet. Don't Push It, he is something else. In the mornings you walk down and his head is in and out of the stable. He's like, ‘excuse me, leave me out now’. You leave him out and about half 11/ 12 o'clock he is ready to come in,” she added. 

Limerick superstar! ‘Anything that Istabraq wants, Istabraq gets’

Julie, who is from Knocklong, has been working in the JP McManus owned farm for a number of years and explained that these hugely successful athletes thrive off routine. 

“They get their cuddles, they get their treats when they go out to the field, they know that in the mornings they get their feed, they get their carrots. Then we come back around and check them again, and they come up to you like ‘okay, you're here, what do you have for me,” she told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live. 

The five star stud is tranquil and calm and the team ensures that each guest receives that experience with Julie stating: “all the horses are really happy. So once they're happy, we're happy”.