2021 Eclipse Awards: Godolphin

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum’s international Godolphin operation is a finalist for both the Eclipse Award for outstanding owner and breeder, looking to add more hardware to its already glittering case. The operation won the Eclipse as outstanding owner in 2009, 2012, and 2020. It also, under its Darley name, tied with Lael Stable in the voting for 2006. It won the Eclipse for outstanding breeder in 2012 under the Darley name.

Godolphin’s North American division established a single-season record as 2021’s leading owner by earnings, according to the season’s final statistics from Equibase. Godolphin – with 84 North American wins from 479 starts – amassed earnings of $17,403,204, smashing the former single-season mark of $12.2 million set in 2013 by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. With many of its runners being homebreds, Godolphin also led the individual breeders list in North America with $18,447,150 in earnings.

Godolphin was led by 2020 Eclipse Award champion and 2021 divisional finalist Essential Quality, who counted the Belmont and Runhappy Travers stakes among his five graded stakes scores on the season. Godolphin sent out three winners at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar: Modern Games in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Space Blues in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by the PDJF, and Yibir in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. All three race as homebreds, making the operation the first owner and breeder to win three races in a single Breeders’ Cup.

:: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Godolphin’s other major victories in North America included Grade 1 scores for Albahr, Althiqa, Maxfield, Walton Street, and Wild Beauty.

Though not counted in North American statistics, Mystic Guide won the Dubai World Cup for Godolphin and Space Blues won a Group 1 in France.