Racing Royalty
A Legacy of Excellence and Prestige with the Crown Jewels of Godolphin
Written by Laura Ross
It felt surreal,” says Dan Pride, Managing Director of Godolphin USA. “Last year was a very special year and the pinnacle was winning the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. So many of our team were there to share in the excitement, and I don’t think any of us will ever forget that weekend.”
With Good Cheer’s victory in the 2025 Kentucky Oaks followed by Sovereignty’s Kentucky Derby triumph the next day, the Godolphin-owned and bred runners secured a rare double, one not achieved by a single owner since Calumet Farm in 1952.
In addition to their huge victories in Kentucky, Godolphin’s Ruling Court and Desert Flower completed a clean sweep of the Classics at Newmarket in the United Kingdom. Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, the pair also made history as the first trainer-jockey combination in more than 20 years to win both the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas in the same weekend.
Thoroughbred racing has been tagged the “Sport of Kings” since the 17th Century. While horse racing traces back to the ancient Babylonians and Sumerians, it grew over time into a popular pastime among the aristocracy. Selective horse breeding dates back to ancient Egypt and the Middle East, later expanding into the Greek and Roman eras. Today, the Sport of Kings is enjoyed by fans from all walks of life but it still holds a favored status among the rich and famous—including royalty.
Godolphin’s international Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation was founded in 1994 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, hereditary ruler of Dubai, and Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Today, Godolphin ranks as one of the largest Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations in the world.
Godolphin’s royal blue silks are among the most recognizable design in horse racing, with more than 9,000 race victories worldwide, including the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Dubai World Cup, a dozen individual Breeders’ Cup races, the Epsom Derby and more.
Team Godolphin has operations on four different continents, including the United Arab Emirates’ Al Quoz Stables and Marmoom Stables; in the United Kingdom, with Dalham Hall Stud, Godolphin Stables and Moulton Paddocks; and in Australia, with Kelvinside, NSW, Northwood Park VIC and Woodlands, NSW. Japan is home to Castle Park; and Ireland to Kildangan Stud.
Godolphin’s US operations are centered across four Kentucky locations: its North American headquarters at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, the historic Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, as well as Stonerside Farm and Raceland Farm in Bourbon County.
“Kentucky is really the heartbeat of the Thoroughbred world,” says Pride. “It’s an important place to have a presence, and we’re fortunate enough to have built an operation that includes different divisions with their own identities that we’ve put together over the years. We’ve followed a path that gives Godolphin a chance to compete in the most important races in America each year.”
Darley, the stallion arm of Godolphin, stands Thoroughbred stallions across six countries worldwide, with its American base at Jonabell Farm. Its global headquarters are at Dalham Hall Stud, on the outskirts of Newmarket, UK, with additional operations at Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, as well as in Japan and at two locations in Australia.
“As Dubai’s home team, Team Godolphin works hard to reflect the pioneering spirit of Dubai, constantly looking forward and relentlessly innovating in everything we do,” says His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who called upon a lifelong passion for horses and racing when he founded Godolphin.
Sheikh Mohammad brings that relentless sense of innovation to all that he does. In 1995, Sheikh Mohammed became Crown Prince of Dubai, and his entrepreneurial spirit and keen business mind led him to oversee Dubai’s development into the world’s most luxurious resort and business destination. He was key in developing the Palm Islands, the Burj al-Arab hotel, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the Dubai World Cup and Godolphin Stables. In 1999, Sheikh Mohammed announced an initiative to make Dubai’s government completely online, which it accomplished within 18 months, becoming the world’s first fully online government. In 2001, Sheikh Mohammed announced the Destination Dubai project, which saw the construction of the Palm Islands, a giant resort spread over two palm tree-shaped man-made islands. After the death of his elder brother in 2006, Sheikh Mohammed was named ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE.
As a young man, he was captivated by the power, elegance and speed of horses. He learned to ride horses in his early childhood and later, as a promising athlete, he rode bareback races with his friends. When he studied at the Bell School of Languages at Cambridge, Sheikh Mohammed attended his first horse race at Newmarket, watching Royal Palace win the 2,000 Guineas in 1967. Ten years later, Sheikh Mohammed’s own involvement with international racing began with the Filly Hatta, who gave him his first success at Brighton (UK) in1977. She went on to land the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood the following month.
Sheikh Mohammed’s passion for horses evolved into a major bloodstock operation with the 1994 establishment of Godolphin and the Darley stallion arm. Modern Thoroughbreds trace their beginnings to Arabia and the three foundational Arabian stallions that came from East to West —the Godolphin Arabian, Darley Arabian and Byerly Turk. Godolphin Racing honors that history as its horses forge their own legacies in the sport.
The success and development of Godolphin coincided with the rise in Dubai’s international profile. At the time it was established, owners tended to race their horses only on their own continent. Sheikh Mohammed wanted to race his horses all over the world and encouraged others to do the same. Established to foster international competition, the Dubai World Cup is the world’s second richest horse race. The American horse Cigar won the first World Cup and in 2026, the 30th running attracted many international entries. Sheikh Mohammed was presented the Special Eclipse Award in 2001 by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
An exceptionally accomplished rider, he has a long history in endurance racing, serving as Captain of the UAE national team. He led the team to victory in the 1999 European Championship in Spain and Portugal, captained as they defended their title in Italy in 2001 and again guided the team to victory in Ireland in 2003. He is also a leading advocate for the inclusion of endurance racing in the Olympic Games.
Sheikh Mohammed has procured a team of equine experts from across the globe, including trainers Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby, along with domestic trainers Bill Mott, Brad Cox, Mike Stidham, Brendan Walsh and Eoin Harty, all integral parts of the global breeding and operation. One that includes more than 2,500 horses in training, stallions and breeding stock worldwide. All are housed in exquisite facilities that include private grass and all-weather gallops, equine spas and swimming pools. Many of the Godolphin horses winter in Dubai facilities where they prepare for the Dubai World Cup Carnival and other G1 races worldwide.
“Our team is so proud to represent His Highness Sheikh Mohammed globally. We want to reflect well within the sport and in honor of the horses, which are our guiding lights,” explains Pride.
Godolphin USA’s headquarters in central Kentucky include breeding at three historical farms—Gainsborough, Jonabell and Stonerside.
Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, just outside of Lexington, was a successful cattle and tobacco farm for decades before it was purchased in 1984 by Sheikh Mohammed’s brother, Sheikh Maktoum. Over the next 20 years, Gainsborough grew and was redeveloped into 1,500 prime acres for Godolphin USA. Many of Godolphin’s mares and foals call Gainsborough home today.
Champions and G1 winners foaled and raised there include Alpha, Emcee, Encke, Fantastic Light, Dream Ahead, Music Note, Flashing, Aesop’s Fables, Mystic Guide and Cody’s Wish. Some of the well-known mares currently living at Gainsborough include Hall of Famer Ashado, five-time G1 winner Music Note, and G1 winners Round Pond, Flashing, Dance Card, Game Face, Balletto, Cocoa Beach, Dubai Escapade, and Octave.
The picturesque Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, sits on 800 acres of lush pastures and is the center of Godolphin’s Thoroughbred operations in the United States. The farm was founded in 1954 by John A. Bell and his wife, Jessica, and has operated for over 50 years as a Thoroughbred nursery.
Under the Bell’s ownership, Jonabell produced more than 200 Stakes winners and 14 Champions, including leading sire Damascus and the Bells’ homebred Breeders’ Cup winner Epitome. Stallions that have stood at the farm include Triple Crown winner Affirmed and Horse of the Year Holy Bull. The legendary Affirmed is buried at Jonabell Farm.
Sheikh Mohammed purchased Jonabell from the Bells in 2001, and in 2006 the Darley stallion operations at Gainsborough Farm and Jonabell Farm were consolidated to this location. Today, Jonabell is home to several Darley stallions, including leading sire Medaglia d’Oro, Kentucky Derby winners Street Sense and Nyquist, Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality, and multiple G1 winners Frosted and Maxfield. Two-time Breeders’ Cup winner and 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish is also standing at Jonabell Farm. Someday, after his racing career is over, Sovereignty may join the stallion barn as well.
Sheikh Mohammed purchased the 2,000-acre Stonerside Farm near Paris, Kentucky, from Bob and Janice McNair (former owner of Houston Texans) in October 2008. Since then, it has produced multiple Grade 1 winners for Godolphin, including Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer, White Moonstone, It’s Tricky, Better Lucky, Wedding Toast and Frosted.
Named for its frontage along Stoner Creek, the farm features a notable covered bridge built by the McNairs in 1999—the first of its kind in Kentucky in over a century. Today, Stonerside operates as one of Godolphin’s mare and foal divisions.
After winning the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty bypassed the Preakness Stakes but returned to win the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first Derby winner to skip the Preakness and still capture the Belmont. As in the Derby, Sovereignty pursued the favorite, Journalism, before surging past in the stretch to claim victory. He may not have won the coveted Triple Crown, but the horse won the hearts of racing fans worldwide.
Will there be another stellar Godolphin performance in 2026? Perhaps, says Pride hopefully. “2026 is a brand-new year for us and we are starting over on the scoreboard,” he explains. “We’re excited about a Filly named Bella Ballerina who is on track to run in the Kentucky Oaks. She’s also a homebred and a half sister to our first Oaks winner, Pretty Mischievous, who won in 2023 and is by Street Sense, one of our stallions who won the Kentucky Derby in 2007.”
Pride adds, “We’ve made the decision to leave Sovereignty in training for his four-year-old year. If he makes his next start in the Oaklawn Handicap, it will be his first-ever start in Arkansas. Also, we kept Good Cheer in training, so we have an exciting group to lead us into this year.”
The entire team at Godolphin USA collectively ensures success that’s memorable and meaningful. As Pride says, the key ingredient is the majestic horse—the reason they are all there. “It takes three things for us to have this sustained success that we’ve been so fortunate to experience,” he muses. “ You’ve got to have a founder like His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who’s very supportive of all your efforts. Number two, you must have a team who all have their countless hands in the game, from when the horses are conceived, to when they are born and raised, to the pre-training, to once they go to the trainers. The team is crucial to our success. And the third thing, you must have the horse. At the end of the day we are all in this business because of that wonderful animal, and that puts us in a position to have the wonderful success we are so fortunate to enjoy. It’s a great life.”
