It was established in 1910 to stand the racehorse Gainsborough and sold in 1981 to Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who operated it as part of his international horse breeding and racing interests, including training horses to race under his own and Godolphin's colours.
On his death, Gainsborough Stud passed to Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and became part of the Darley and then the Godolphin operations.
[1] In 1940, failing health forced Lady Douglas to sell Harwood Stud, including Gainsborough.
[6] The international operation also stood horses in a number of stud farms in the UK, Ireland and America.
[9] Of the three horses standing in America for Gainsborough, two – Elusive Quality and Quiet American – were moved to Sheikh Mohammed's Jonabell Farm.