Haras Vacación

In 1972, Raúl F. Lottero —one of its owners— decided to change his role in racing and shift from owner to breeder. To launch the venture he parted with two cherished possessions: his share in the mare "Vacación" and his boat "Boyero". On 31 hectares along Route 8, kilometer 119, in San Antonio de Areco —a region in Buenos Aires Province widely regarded as one of the best for Thoroughbred breeding— he started with seven broodmares and a share in the stallion "Voodoo". The farm took its name from the mare that had originally inspired the project, in recognition of the joys she had brought.

In a short time, Lottero built a band of more than 80 broodmares of excellent pedigree. One of them, "Música", produced through her daughter "Manzanera" the farm's first major selective win: the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas. Top-class victories of this kind became a recurring tradition of the operation.

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The arrival of the stallion "Pepenador" —named Sire of the Year in 1989— marked a turning point in the farm's evolution. From his progeny came Cheyenne (Champion 3-Year-Old Male), Bobsy (Champion 2-Year-Old Male), Fiara (Mare of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Female) and Double Paid (Horse of the Year). That same year, Haras Vacación earned its first distinction as Breeder of the Year.

In 1988 the farm bred Paseana, a filly who, after major wins in Argentina and the United States, was named Best Mare in the World in two consecutive years, 1992 and 1993. That recognition marked the international takeoff of the farm, which from then on gained visibility in world racing.

The arrival of the stallion "Roy" in 1997 —already credited with nine consecutive Chilean titles— opened a new period of success. Roy was Sire of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and, in 2004, joined the select group of stallions with more than 100 stakes-winning progeny, when "Candidato Roy" won the South African Nursery and was crowned Champion 2-Year-Old in that country. Roy holds the rare distinction of having sired champions in four countries and topped the sire list in three of them.

In 2000, "Salt Lake" entered Argentina for the first time. His single crop at the farm led both the general and the 2-year-old classic sire standings. From 2003 onward, the breeding program was diversified with shuttle stallions of world standing such as Vision & Verse, Shuttle Diplomacy, Hennessy, Thunder Gulch, Honour & Glory and Mutakddim.

Lottero's passion and innovative spirit found continuity in his successors, who built on his work. The current band exceeds 150 broodmares, with more than 50 champions or dams of champions, and the farm has bred over 65 Group 1 winners to date.

Haras Vacación has been named Breeder of the Year five times (1987, 1989, 1995, 1997 and 2000) and won the Pellegrini of the Year in 1992. Its current stallions include Disarm, Fortify, Remote, Hi Happy, Satono Flag and Cityscape.

Haras Vacación

Horses bred

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Stud history

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