Gestüt Wittekindshof counts as one of the most successful breeding operations in Germany. Thoroughbreds have been bred here since 1969, with the stud officially established in 1978.
The stud owners are Mr and Mrs Miebach, who initially successfully bred Trakehner horses. The stud manager at this time was Otto Stürze. As President of Dortmund Racecourse, Mr Miebach converted the stud to the sole pursuit of breeding Thoroughbreds in the 1970s. Karl Jörg was the stud manager from 1980. He retired in 2018 and was succeeded by Julian Ellis, who previously successfully managed Gestüt Park Wiedingen. Today the stud covers 56 hectares of pasture land and lies 400m above sea level on the Haarstrang, on the border between Soester Börde and Sauerland.
The breeding policy has been based for many years on the pairing of well-established, domestic damlines with high quality, international sirelines from the biggest and most successful international studs such as Coolmore, Darley or the Aga Khan. The stud's products are offered at auction or put in to training in it's own colours.
A tough, healthy and very humane approach to raising horses, with optimal care given, ensured a steady rise in success. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that products of non-commercial stallions produced very good racing performances. This speaks not only for the approach to the raising of the stock, but also for the quality of the damlines. Gestüt Wittekindshof was soon proven to be a sure source for a good, and above all else, healthy and tough racehorse.
With the increasing sales successes, so too began the big racing successes for Gestüt Wittekindshof. The first torchbearer was Elektrant, who in 1981 in the space of one week in Baden-Baden won two Listed races (Preis der Stadt Baden-Baden, Preis des Casino Baden-Baden). He was followed by Mandelbaum, who in 1990 was unbeaten in the German 2000 Guineas and the Zander Union Rennen. Racing success from 1986 to date totals 54 Group wins, 107 Group places, 59 Listed wins and numerous more Listed places. The two biggest champions bred by Wittekindshof are Elle Danzig and Tiger Hill. The multiple champion Elle Danzig proved herself to be an exceptional mare, with eleven Group wins in Germany and abroad, including three Group 1 wins. The three-time Group 1 winner Tiger Hill was sold by Wittekindshof as a yearling and began his career both in Germany and abroad as a racehorse and as a stallion.
The most successful horse bred in Germany to date, in terms of prizemoney earned, is Pakistan Star, by Shamardal out of Nina Celebre, born in 2013 at Wittekindshof. With over 37 million Hong Kong Dollars of prizemoney earned, he is owned by Kerm Din, Hong Kong.
Other top horses include Night Petticoat, her son and German Derby winner Next Desert, her daughter Next Gina, the Champion milers La Blue and Lomita, Nadour al Bahr, Omikron, Network, Saldentiegerin, Nordtänzerin, Rosenreihe und Elle Shadow. Since 1996, Gestüt Wittekindshof has provided, in total, five German Oaks winners, with Night Petticoat (1996), Elle Danzig (1998), Next Gina (2003), Rosenreihe (2008) and Serienholde in 2016.
Healthy and humane breeding
Every racing career is preceded by the time of upbringing at the stud farm where the course is set for a long and successful future as a race horse. At Gestüt Wittekindshof, we therefore assign great importance to natural ways of raising horses. All of our horses spend most of their time on our stud farm's expansive pastures but of course the importance of handling is not neglected either, and the horses learn the normal procedures and rules of behaviour from day one.
Strong broodmare band from top international families
Our exceptionally high quality band of broodmares is the heart of the stud. Of the approx. 20 mares, 18 (!) have a rating of 110 (GAG 90 kg) or higher, as we pay particular attention to the maternal influence when breeding world class race horses.
56 ha of quality pasture land and 47 boxes
Through mixed grazing, continual maintenance and a generous ratio of acreage to herd size, Gestüt Wittekindshof has the best conditions for a healthy upbringing. Airy and light boxes in several self-contained yards complete the premises.
Sales stud with a passion for horses
Our own racing stable is mainly filled with fillies and mares, with the focus being on maintaining the quality of the damlines. Colts, and fillies from strongly represented Wittekindshof lines, are offered at auction, so there is no "second-rate quality" for buyers. We have been breeding Thoroughbreds since 1969 and Warmbloods before that. The horse gene runs in the whole family, the enthusiasm being passed on from generation to generation.
our great mare wins again at Gr.1 level
Trainer: Andreas Schütz, Jockey: Andrasch Starke
Trainer: Andreas Schütz, Jockey: Andrasch Starke
Großer Dallmayr-Preis, Gr.1
Trainer: Andreas Schütz, Jockey: Stanley K.M. Chin
140th Preis der Diana - Deutsches Stuten-Derby, Gr.2
Trainer: Andreas Schütz, Jockey: Andrasch Starke
in the 78th German 1000 Guineas, Gr.2
Trainer: Andreas Schütz, Jockey: Andrasch Starke
138th Preis der Diana - Gr.2
Trainer: Bruno Schütz, Jockey: Terence Hellier
in the 76th German 1000 Guineas, Gr.2
Trainer: Bruno Schütz, Jockey: Terence Hellier