Runnymede’s O’Dowd opening bloodstock venture

Martin O’Dowd, general manager of Runnymede Farm in Paris, Ky. will open a new bloodstock management venture while continuing to oversee the farm’s international breeding and racing operations.

O’Dowd will work for clients, including Runnymede, at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale and the Tattersalls December breeding stock sale. Day-to-day operations at Runnymede will now be overseen on an interim basis by James Profit.

After beginning his career working with Coolmore in Ireland and later serving as stallion manager at Brereton Jones’s Airdrie Stud, O’Dowd has managed Runnymede since 1986. The Irish native intends to continue managing broodmares, foals and racehorses in conjunction with his bloodstock operation.

“Being with horses on a daily basis is a privilege that I cherish, and I have prized working with the Runnymede team and [Runnymede Farm Chairman] Catesby W. Clay over the past three decades,” O’Dowd said. “Mr. Clay wholeheartedly supported efforts to build Runnymede into a unique breeding operation with roots extending from our base in Paris, Ky., to England, Ireland, France and Japan, and he has had a special vision that enabled us to produce the outstanding horses that are the hallmark of Runnymede even as we limited the broodmare band to a small but select group.”

Under O’Dowd’s management, Runnymede was among the first American-based farms to send mares to future leading sire Galileo, and the farm sold two resulting foals for a total of $2.5 million. O’Dowd also advised purchasing the dams of and/or recommended the matings that produced Japanese champion Agnes Digital, multiple Grade 1 winner Awesome Gem, Grade/Group 1 winners such as Divine Park, Marylebone and Palace Episode, and Kentucky Derby runner-up and sire Tejano Run.