This Guineas Weekend, with the Rowley Mile ready to welcome the world, it is worth remembering that long before the roar of race day, the real work has already been done, in the paddocks, in the yards, and in the careful hands of those who dedicate their lives to the thoroughbred. Mark Dean is one of those people.
Beginning his career at Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud in 1997, Mark has spent nearly three decades immersed in the heart of the racehorse breeding industry. He has grown within it, learned from it and contributed to it, building a career defined by knowledge, steadiness and deep respect for the horse.
Today, as Stallion Manager at Shadwell, he is entrusted with overseeing an exceptional roster including Baaeed, Mohaather and Mostahdaf horses whose brilliance on the track now shapes the future of the breed and reflects the strength of British racing worldwide.
Alongside his professional role, Mark gives his time to strengthening the industry’s future. As a trustee of The Wavertree Education Trust, he supports education and training pathways that prepare young people for careers in the thoroughbred breeding sector. He has also lectured for the National Stud and the British Racing School, sharing the insight that comes from lived experience.
Supported by his wife Kathryn and their three children, Mark represents the best of racing’s tradition: dedication, humility and a commitment to passing knowledge on.
As Newmarket once again takes centre stage, Mark speaks to Gina Long about stewardship, pride and the enduring strength of Britain’s breeding industry.
What does Suffolk mean to you?
Suffolk has given me the best foundations to build both a family and a career. Professionally, there’s nowhere better. Newmarket is the home of horse racing and for anyone aspiring to work with horses, it’s the place to be. Socially, it’s just as rewarding. Bury St Edmunds has fantastic restaurants, with Southwold as my go‑to beach. It’s a county that has supported every stage of my life.
What was your very first job?
At 16, I began a modern apprenticeship as a stud hand for Shadwell Stud at Snarehill, the rest and recuperation yard. I have fond memories of working for Dennis O’Brien, the then manager, who today is a mentor and good friend, always reminding me, how my feet were too big to be a jockey. I was already 6ft tall and 9st 6lbs, how right he was. I took his good advice, in focusing on the breeding side of the industry.
Describe yourself in three words.
Loyal, resilient, argumentative.
When did you first realise horses would become your life’s work?
I grew up in a big family where sticking together was everything.
When I joined Shadwell Stud aged 16, it felt like walking into another family. Chris Kennard, led an environment where people looked after each other, again, one big family who absolutely looked after each other. This strong foundation helped make me a better person, one where my inquisitive nature was encouraged, not shut down. That ethos shaped me, leading to me dedicating myself to this great industry.
Who influenced you most in your early years?
Kathryn, my partner, whom I met at 18. She’s the strongest, hardest‑working person I know. She built our home and raised our children, whilst I built my career. I might be the front of house; she laid the foundations our family stands on today.
What are you most proud of in your journey?
Recently, the Racing Post described me as taking the stallions under my care “as an extension of my own body.” Having read this, I joked to Kathryn, how my life was now complete, she wasn’t best pleased. I’m proud that I’ve held every position on a stud: apprentice, stud hand, yard man, second person, stud groom and now manager. I’d like to think I have earnt my place.
How would you describe what you do to someone outside the breeding world?
We send the best to the best and hope for the best.
As guardians of the thoroughbred, we must produce sound horses in both body and mind. Breeding isn’t about forcing extremes; it’s about complementing strengths. A mare who has won over a mile, should go to a stallion who has achieved the same. Trying to breed from a 1-mile 4-furlong mare and a 6-furlong sprinter, usually gives you a slow sprinter or a horse that simply won’t stay, either way it doesn’t make for a good racehorse.
What impresses you most about Baaeed, Mohaather and Mostahdaf beyond their race records?
Their personalities. Their honesty. I can look into Baaeed’ s eyes and see his heart. If I’m having a bad day, I go and chat to them, it’s like catching up with three best friends, without their partners texting to ask where they are.
What makes British bloodstock so special?
Modern racing began here. Our bloodlines go back hundreds of years, our industry has always learned from its own history. That heritage puts us at the forefront of veterinary care and horse welfare, giving horses the best environment from which to thrive.
What motivated you to return to formal study later in your career?
Andrew Snell at Cheveley Park Stud encouraged me to do a degree. He said, how I had an inquisitive mind but needed to learn how to research and evidence my reasoning. I’ve always wanted to prove myself and improve conditions for the horses, so I took his valuable advice and studied in my free time after work, going on to gain a degree.
Why is investing in the next generation so important to you?
Shadwell and Cheveley Park invested in me, something I remain grateful for. That support allowed me to grow, giving me and my family opportunities we might not otherwise have had. This industry needs to help people grow personally and professionally; I am passionate about helping achieve this. I also have three children myself; I’d like to think people in their chosen professions will one day help them achieve their dreams.
What do you enjoy most about lecturing?
The enthusiasm. The willingness to learn. I like starting a discussion and introducing a bold idea at just the right moment, knowing it may divide opinion. It keeps me sharp and prevents me from settling into outdated thinking.
What have you learned about leadership?
When I was younger, I sometimes thought my managers were being harsh, in reality they were protecting me from things I didn’t need to carry. I didn’t appreciate that at the time. Now, as a senior manager, I have a great deal of respect for those who created that space, allowing me to focus on doing my job well. I’ve learned that good leadership often involves stepping back from situations and creating distance where needed, so you can make better decisions for everyone.
What does a good day look like at the stud?
A good day at the stud is seeing positive pregnancy scans and knowing our clients will have a foal to show for their efforts, that’s incredibly rewarding. Hearing the team laughing at the end of the day tells me they’re enjoying their work. Horses with their heads in the feed manger is always a reassuring sign that they’re well. When all of that aligns, I sleep well.
What has been the steepest learning curve?
Realising that what I might consider a throwaway comment can have a lasting impact. Communication needs to be clear and considered, especially when you’re leading people. Staff put in a huge amount of effort and that should never go unnoticed. Early on, I didn’t give this the attention it deserved.
What’s the most important lesson nearly three decades have taught you?
The most important lesson has been not to judge others through the lens of my own morals. People are shaped by different experiences, constraints and motivations. Recognising that has deepened my empathy.
What does Guineas weekend represent to you?
For those of us in breeding, Guineas weekend is the first real moment of truth. It’s where what we believe are the best three-year-olds are put to the test and where years of planning, mating decisions and careful youngstock management finally meet the racetrack.
What goes through your mind when a horse competes at the highest level?
Success and the culmination of years of unseen work. A two‑year‑old on the track represents four years of someone’s time, money and dedication. Unless you work in breeding, you don’t see that side of it.
Damage limitation. Just get the horse back safe and sound. There’s always another day.
Who has been your greatest supporter?
Andrew McGladdery of Rossdale Equine Practice. He has always encouraged me to expand my thinking and push myself. His in-depth knowledge of the breeding industry has helped me massively in my career. He is great at playing devil’s advocate making me research further and question what I think I know.
Outside the yard, what brings you joy?
Carp fishing, when you wake to mist rising from the lake surface, its art in its truest form. There is a lot of correlation between the horse’s core survival behaviour and a shoal of fish. Ultimately, they are both pray, which makes them act the same way, knowing this has helped me catch some impressive fish.
Your favourite place to switch off?
Watching films, it annoys my partner Kathryn as she doesn’t understand how I can watch the same film repeatedly.
What’s always in your fridge?
Stallion fertility supplement, it needs to be kept cold.
Your favourite tipple?
Monkey 47 Gin.
If you had a mastermind subject outside racing, what would it be?
George Orwell, not just for his writing, but for the lesser-known fact that he was a keen carp fisherman. His reflections on it in Coming Up for Air add another layer to his work.
What does “success” mean to you now?
Seeing my children, well educated, happy, well-travelled and in-love.
What excites you most about the future of British breeding?
What excites me most is the chance to see Baaeed’s first runners’ step onto a racecourse. Everything over the past four years has been building towards this moment. I moved from Cheveley Park Stud to Shadwell Stud on the very day he retired and since then the whole team has been focused on giving him the best possible start to his stallion career.
Newmarket is often described as the heart of racing. Does it feel like a small community from the inside and is there a real sense of mutual support between owners, trainers, breeders and stud managers?
Absolutely. Newmarket may be the global centre of racing, however, from the inside it feels surprisingly small and closely connected. Everyone operates within the same ecosystem, owners, trainers, breeders and stud managers, that naturally creates a strong sense of mutual respect.
Each role depends on the other. Stud managers rely on trainers to develop youngstock into future stallions and broodmares, while trainers depend on studs to produce sound, well-minded horses capable of handling the demands of a racing yard. Ultimately, we’re all working for the owner, the level of interdependence means you gain a real appreciation for what everyone brings.
There’s a genuine community spirit. As a manager, I know we tend to support one another and groups like the Newmarket Stud Farmers help reinforce that. It’s encouraging to see similar networks emerging across the country. When people share knowledge, support each other and face challenges together, the whole industry becomes stronger.
As you look ahead, what simple philosophy guides how you live and work?
Don’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree. Everyone has their own strengths, their own pace and their own way of thriving. Good leadership and life, comes from recognising that.
What advice would you give to a young person hoping to enter the industry today?
Sometimes the greatest returns in life don’t come in the form of a wage. The real value lies in the education you gain by being around the right people. When you’re young, your time is your greatest asset, how you invest it can shape the entire trajectory of your life.
Surround yourself with the best people you can. Watch how they think, how they solve problems and how they carry themselves. That kind of exposure is worth far more than any pay cheque, it shapes your mindset, your standards and your opportunities. Real intelligence isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about knowing who to ask. Success rarely comes from having all the answers, it’s from building the right network, learning from the right mentors, whilst having the humility to keep listening.
What does Guineas Weekend mean to you and for Newmarket?
Guineas Weekend is Newmarket’s moment of identity, heritage and pride.
For me, it’s an annual reminder of why Newmarket is the home of racing and the true heartbeat of breeding.
Website: www.shadwellstud.com
@mark.dean
@ginageelong
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