Haras de Meautry inTouques,Calvados,Normandy,France, is athoroughbredhorse breedingfarm. It was acquired in the 19th century byhorse-racing enthusiastAlphonse James de Rothschild (1827–1905) who passed it down to hisoffspring so that today it is in the hands ofÉdouard de Rothschild (b. 1957).
Numerous stud farms can be found in the area and four kilometers away inDeauville are tworace tracks, theDeauville-Clairefontaine Racecourse and theDeauville-La Touques Racecourse.
Over the years, Haras de Meautry has produced a number of champion horses including:
One of the most famous of the Rothschild horses was Brantôme, owned byEdouard Alphonse de Rothschild, the then owner of Haras de Meautry. Brantôme was unbeaten at ages 2 and 3 and is ranked among the best French horses ever. The colt won theFrench 2000 Guineas; thePrix Lupin, thePrix Royal-Oak, the most prestigious 1934Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe plus eight other significant races.
During theGerman occupation of France during World War II, all breeders' premiums won by Meautry-bred horses were confiscated by theNazi officials in charge of French racing. As well, the Nazis seized some of the best racehorses in the country and shipped more than six hundred thoroughbreds out of the country. Some went toHungary, but most were shipped toGermany for racing or for breeding at theHeeresgestüt Altefeld, which belonged to the GermanWehrmacht. Among them was the champion Brantôme who would be recovered in 1945 at the end of the War.
Other Rothschild-owned horses won theGrand Prix de Paris in 1909 and 1914 and claimed victory in a number of other importantStakes races including two more wins at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1938 and 1963.
The stables'filly, England's Legend, was one of the favorites for the 2001Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf but faded badly to finish 11th.
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