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John Magnier (born 10 February 1948) is an Irish people business magnate. He is a leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside the horse-breeding industry.
Magnier was a senator in the upper house of the Oireachtas, Seanad Éireann from 1987 to 1989. He is based at Coolmore Stud at Fethard in County Tipperary, considered one of the world's best stallion stations.
Magnier began his association with Coolmore in partnership with his father-in-law and champion racehorse trainer, Vincent O'Brien, and Vernon's Pools magnate, Robert Sangster. They developed successful racing horses and breeding stock, mainly by purchasing the progeny of the Canadian stallion Northern Dancer. Eventually, Magnier came to head the operation. His racing empire is nowadays powered by blue-blooded thoroughbreds trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O'Brien, plus many others in the care of other trainers.
Champion sires to have stood at Coolmore include Sadler's Wells who was leading sire (by prizemoney won) in Great Britain and Ireland in 14 of the 15 years between 1990 and 2004, though his success in his later years was eclipsed by three other Coolmore stallions, namely Danehill and his own sons Galileo and Montjeu. Other notable Group 1 winners who have turned successfully to stud duties are Danehill Dancer, Giant's Causeway, and Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral.
Less successful at Coolmore was George Washington, winner of the 2,000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2006.. George Washington proved infertile, was returned to racing, and suffered a fatal breakdown in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic. George Washington was replaced at stud by another son of Danehill, Holy Roman Emperor, removed from training at the start of his three-year-old season. Eleven of the fifteen winners of Epsom Derby between 1998 and 2012 were sired by Coolmore stallions (High Estate, Fairy King, Grand Lodge, Sadler's Wells (two), Danehill, Montjeu (four) and Galileo)
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