Godolphin, LLC

Formed in 1994, Godolphin is the international division composed of the top horses owned by members of Dubai's royal family. Godolphin has won more than 285 Grade 1 or Group 1 races in 14 countries. 

Dubai-born Saeed bin Suroor is the longest-serving trainer for Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.  In addition to Saeed bin Suroor, Charlie Appleby and James Cummings also currently train for Godolphin, and Tom Albertrani, Bob Baffert, Eoin Harty, Kiaran McLaughlin, Richard Mandella, and Mike Stidham train horses for the operation in the United States.

Led by Seventh Street, Music Note, Flashing, Gayego and Pyro, a group that won a total of nine Grade 1 races, Godolphin earned its first Eclipse Award in 2009 as the outstanding owner in North America. Godolphin added a second Eclipse Award as outstanding owner in 2012.

Godolphin has won Breeders’ Cup races with Essential Quality (Juvenile, 2020), Line of Duty (Juvenile Turf, 2018), Talismanic (Turf, 2017), Wuheida (Filly and Mare Turf, 2017), Outstrip (Juvenile Turf, 2013), Vale of York (Juvenile, 2009), Tempera (Juvenile Fillies, 2001), Fantastic Light (Turf, 2001), and Daylami (Turf, 1999). Pebbles and In the Wings won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 1985 and 1990 for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and Sheikh Mohammed won the Juvenile in partnership with Allen Paulson with Arazi in 1991 and the Mile with Barathea in 1994 in partnership with Gerald Leigh. 

Sheikh Mohammed has won the Dubai World Cup 10 times, most recently with Thunder Snow in both 2018 and 2019.

In 2015, Godolphin merged with Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud in the United States to form one company and one racing stable. That year, Godolphin won a pair of Grade 1 races with Wedding Toast as well as the Grade 1 Wood Memorial with Frosted. Frosted went on to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Sheikh Mohammed's lone success in the U.S. Triple Crown was a victory with Darley homebred Bernardini in the 2006 Preakness Stakes. Godolphin earned its first victory in the Epsom Derby in 2018 with Masar.

In 2020, Godolphin finished second in North American earnings, eighth in wins, and tied for first in graded stakes wins with eight, including three Grade 1 stakes wins. The operation was honored with its fourth Eclipse Award as Outstanding Owner, one coming under the Darley Stable banner.