Combining a strong family tradition with expertise gained during an intensive sojourn in the heart of Britain’s thoroughbred racing and training world at Lambourn, Emily MacMahon was well equipped to take the reins on her return home to Meath’s Lambertstown Stud seven years ago.

This stretch of rich land along the banks of the Skane River became the perfect vehicle for Army Olympian Lt. Col. Ronnie MacMahon and accomplished local rider Judy Preston to exercise a profound influence on Irish equestrianism after they married back in 1974.

The flowering of young horse and hunter champions were just part of their legacy. Lambertstown also became the birthplace of the hugely successful Future Event Horse Series or YES as it is now known.

Ronnie’s death aged 69 in 2010 did not halt the Stud’s contribution. Eldest daughter Clare carried on to be followed by Emily on her return in 2015.

Learning at Lambourn

Among Emily’s influences at Lambourn was bloodstock advisor to Queen Elizabeth, John Warren. Through him and others she learned the art of pinhooking (foals to sales).

She also ran a yearling yard and worked for Newbury Racecourse, while during her last five years there she rode 35 Point-to-Point wins.

Add all of that to an already strong and pleasant Irish personality and you have the capable person I met when visiting Lambertstown a couple of weeks back.

“I just love seeing the foals develop and learn,” is Emily’s succinct description of her day job. Among her successes is the Profitable foal she bought for €15,000 that made €58,000 as a yearling.

There has also been one by Gleneagles that she bought from Pat O’Kelly of Kilcarne Stud for €25,000 and sold at Goffs Orby for €63,000. “Not so bad,” comments mum Judy with a wry smile.

“We could have 30 horses here on the farm at any one time and I like to have 10 being prepped for sales,” Emily notes. She is working with 25 boxes, a horse walker, wood chip turn out and a two-furlong gallops by the Skane.

"If the sales go well, my dream project for 2022 is to create a sand manége,” she declares with a determined smile that reminds one of dad Ronnie.

The Show Scene

Lambertstown’s voluntary and innovative show ethos is not forgotten. With the help of Joanne Quirke, the popular Lambertstown Derby show was revived in 2020. Over Eugene O’Neill’s course it will be run again this September.

Helped by some HSI funding, its five winner-take-all events worth from €500-700 each are limited to 25 entries. Last year they also stepped in to host the Young Event Series Final when COVID intervened at the RDS.