December 30, 2019 
Haras Barlovento, a leading 68-year-old Peruvian stud farm owned by Boris Schwartzman, will disperse its remaining stock and shutter its stalls following the Dec. 22 criminal armed raid in which two resident and two shuttling stallions were murdered, purportedly for their meat.
The crime, during which a night watchman was shot and seriously wounded, and its motive remain under investigation by Peruvian police.
“We believe that with what happened we have lost many, but the most painful thing is to live every second with the pain of what was done with our four stallions,” a statement from the farm read. “Hopefully the authorities of Peru will find these criminals and receive the punishment they deserve. They do not know the damage and pain they have caused.”
Among the slaughtered horses were: The Lieutenant, a six-year-old G3 All American Stakes-winning half-brother (by Street Sense out of Stage Magic by Ghostzapper) of American Triple Crown-winner Justify; Cyrus Alexander, a G3 Lone Star Handicap-winning half-brother (by Medaglia D’Oro out of Supercharger by A.P. Indy) to Kentucky Derby-winner Super Saver; Timely Advice, another son of A.P. Indy and sire to South American Classic winners; and Kung Fu Mambo, an Argentinian-bred son of Giant’s Causeway and winner of the 2012 Derby Nacional (Per-G1).
Two of the stallions were based in South America and two shuttled from the U.S. for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.
The slaughter, described as carried out “in the most nightmarish way,” occurred at a time when interest in racing is on the rise in several South American nations. The crime is expected to have serious consequences for the shuttling of breeding horses between the two continents because of increased problems insuring shuttling stallions and concerns for their safety. None of the owners involved commented on the insurance status of the murdered horses.
Following the slaughter, Haras Barlovento owner Schwartzman turned to Instagram in Spanish to post an emotional message offering known details of the crime in response to messages posted that offered uninvestigated allegations. The translated message read:
“Haras Barlovento is about to turn 68 years old. We are the oldest stud in Peru, and one of the most traditional in the country. Our passion for the Thoroughbred and love of horses has led us to make big investments in stallions and broodmares, including five shuttlers from Kentucky and New York.
“On Saturday (Dec. 22), eight people entered our stud, overcoming our employees and security guards with the sole purpose of going after the horses. Barlovento’s stallion housing is spacious and completely enclosed, which facilitated the unscrupulous activities the criminals undertook for 11 hours.
“The stallion housing is located next to the widest road of the stud so as it is easily accessible in case one of the stallions should need to be transferred to the veterinary clinic. The attackers’ truck was parked there so that the meat could be loaded to be taken to sell at market.
“These fabulous and helpless animals were killed by ignorant, evil, and unscrupulous people.
“Not only did the criminals kill them, they killed our illusions, motivation, and passion; they took our dreams. At a single stroke they destroyed the hobby we have pursued for seven decades.”
On Christmas Day, Schwartzman issued a further statement naming some among the impressive list of sires of the mares that will be placed for sale in the coming year before Haras Barlovento is closed.
Sires of the mares being sold include: Broken Vow, Candy Ride, Dynaformer, Exchange Rate, Forest Wildcat, Freud, Giant’s Causeway, Grand Slam, Johannesburg, Kitten’s Joy, Lookin At Lucky, Malibu Moon, Mineshaft, Pure Prize, Quiet American, Sky Mesa, Smart Strike, Stormy Atlantic, Unbridled and Vindication.
Scwartzman’s statement concludes:
“Our hope is that champions will emerge from those crops so that Barlovento can leave in the manner it should: in style.”
Many of the mares to be offered for sale are presently in foal to some of the murdered stallions.
Murder for horsemeat is not uncommon in Peru, where the meat is then sold at markets, both legal and not. The murder of Alpacas for their valuable fur is also an occurrence in Peru. It is unclear why so prominent a farm and such prominent horses were targeted in this raid.
The sale and closure will bring an end to Peru’s most notable breeding farm, founded in 1952 by Peruvian shipbuilder Augusto Maggiolo Cavenecia, who chaired the country’s owners and breeders’ associations and directed the nation’s Jockey Club.
