Walter Haefner
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| Walter Haefner | |
| Born | September 13, 1910 Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Businessman: automobiles/computers Racehorse breeder |
Walter Haefner (born September 13, 1910) is a billionaire businessman and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder in Ireland. He was born in Switzerland.
As a young man, Walter Haefner went to work in the auto industry as an employee of the Swiss division of General Motors Corporation. He eventually moved to England where he acquired an automobile franchise before returning home to open a Volkswagen dealership. Recognizing the important role a computer could play in his growing chain of dealerships, in 1957 Haefner became one of the first in Switzerland to import an IBM system for business use. This led to his 1964 creation of Automation Center A.G., a computer services company in Zurich. In 1976 he expanded operations to the United States and after merging his company with Russell Artzt's and Charles Wang's Computer Associates in 1987, Haefner is today the company's largest individual shareholder. A multi-billionaire, he still owns AMAG Automobil- und Motoren, his highly successful Swiss automobile dealership chain. As of 2008, he's the oldest billonaire at age 97
[edit] Moyglare Stud Farm
In 1962 Walter Haefner purchased the 440 acre Moyglare Stud Farm near the town of Maynooth, County Kildare, in Ireland. His Thoroughbred racehorses have won numerous Group One and British Classic Races in England, Ireland, and France as well as important races at other venues in Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong.
In the United States, Moyglare's racing stable was handled by trainer Christophe Clement while Dermot K. Weld is the trainer in charge of its European operations. In 1991, Weld became the first European-based trainer to win a race in Hong Kong when Molyglare's colt Additional Risk won the Hong Kong Invitational Bowl at Sha Tin Racecourse.
In 1975, the Curragh Racecourse honored Moyglare's contribution to Irish racing by naming a Group I race the Moyglare Stud Stakes. In 1988, Trinity College, Dublin awarded Walter Haefner an Honorary Doctorate for his services to the Irish bloodstock industry and for his contributions to education in Ireland.
Selective major race wins by some of the horses owned or bred by Moyglare Stud Farm:
- Additional Risk - Hong Kong Bowl
- Again Tomorrow - Premio Parioli
- Assert - Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Derby Stakes
- Bikala - Prix du Jockey Club, Prix Ganay
- Brief Truce - St. James's Palace Stakes
- Carwhite - Prix d'Ispahan
- Dance Design - Irish Oaks, Pretty Polly Stakes (2), Tattersalls Gold Cup
- Definite Article - Tattersalls Gold Cup, National Stakes
- Dress To Thrill - Matriarch Stakes, Matron Stakes, Sun Chariot Stakes
- Go And Go - Belmont Stakes
- Market Booster - Pretty Polly Stakes, Bayerisches Zuchtrennen
- Media Puzzle - Melbourne Cup
- Refuse To Bend - 2,000 Guineas, National Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes
- Relaxed Gesture - Canadian International Stakes
- Stanerra - Japan Cup
- Trusted Partner - Irish 1,000 Guineas
