ABOUT US

Hillwood Stud

Hillwood Stud was founded in 1972. There are 31 stables separated into four separate units including a six box isolation unit. The stud buildings were designed by the renowned vet Frank Mahon and provide spacious, well ventilated stables.  The 50 acres of triple post and railed paddocks all have a south facing aspect and are well protected by trees and hedges for shelter.

Many top class racehorses have been bred at the Stud including KING LUTHIER and PARIS HOUSE who both won and were placed in Group races as well as TAURUS who was second in the Irish St Leger. Over the past few years the stud had not been utilised to its full potential.  However, since Charlie and Tracy Vigors took over the lease in August 2005 extensive refurbishments and improvements have taken place and the stud now boasts some of the finest facilities available in its sphere.

Charlie Vigors

Charlie Vigors was born into a family with a rich history in the racing and bloodstock world.  His father, Nicky Vigors, was a successful trainer and his mother, Fiona Marner, manages Kingwood Stud. Fiona is the daughter of George Forbes, a vet and bloodstock agent who ran Burley Lodge Stud in Epsom.

Charlie's grandfather, Terence, was Senior Steward of the Turf Club as well as the owner of Burgage Stud in Co. Carlow which he sold when he moved to Kingwood Stud in Lambourn.  Terence’s brother, Tim, was an auctioneer, bloodstock agent, stallion master and owner of Coolmore Stud before selling to Vincent O’Brien.

On leaving school Charlie spent six months gaining experience in the United States.  He worked the Keeneland July Sales for Lane’s End Farm before doing more Sales work and exercise riding in Saratoga. 

He furthered his education by assisting Bloodstock Agent James Delahooke at the Keeneland September Sales before returning to the racetrack and spending three months exercise riding and shadowing the Assistant Trainer for Darrell Vienna at Santa Anita in California.

When Charlie returned to England he spent seven years with Nicky Henderson firstly as Pupil Assistant and then full Assistant Trainer. During this time he rode over seventy winners as an amateur jockey under Rules and in Point to Points and worked with top National Hunt horses including BARNA BOY, RAYMYLETTE, REMITTANCE MAN and TRAVADO. Charlie then spent a further two years as Assistant Trainer to Sir Mark Prescott in Newmarket during which time ALBORADA famously won the Group One Champion Stakes in consecutive seasons.

Wanting to broaden his horizons further Charlie returned to the United States to work for D Wayne Lukas and was then recruited by Godolphin to join Eoin Harty for their two year old programme in California.  During these two and a half years Charlie worked closely with the likes of E DUBAI, STREET CRY and Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine TEMPERA.

In November 2003 Charlie came back to England to assist his mother with the running of Kingwood Stud.  During his time there the stud bred and consigned many Group winners including ABIGAIL PETT, MAJESTIC MISSILE and SILCA’S SISTER.  In August 2005 Charlie and his partner, Tracy Wickham, ventured out on their own to start trading at Hillwood Stud.