Juddmonte to continue racing and breeding operations

The family of Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who died earlier this week, has announced that his Juddmonte Farms will continue its breeding and racing operations internationally.

Future plans for Juddmonte had been hotly anticipated since Juddmonte announced the death of Prince Khalid, who entered Thoroughbred ownership in 1977, on Tuesday at age 83. The international operation, based between Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, England, and its farm in Lexington, Ky., is responsible for multiple Cartier Award championships in Europe and Eclipse Awards in North America. It is responsible for a powerhouse stallion roster, led by unbeaten two-time European Horse of the Year Frankel, and one of the world's finest broodmare bands, which European Horse of the Year Enable recently joined.

Prince Khalid had approved the broodmare band's matings for 2021 prior to his death, with Enable slated to visit fellow Horse of the Year Kingman at Banstead Manor. Her first foal will now, eventually, race for Prince Khalid's family, with his sons and grandsons taking an interest in the business.

"The news is there will be no change," Juddmonte CEO Douglas Erskine Crum told the Racing Post. "Juddmonte will continue. There is a commitment from the family and from all the management and staff. It's onwards and upwards."

Juddmonte campaigned Grade 1 winner Viadera and graded stakes winners Bonny South, Juliet Foxtrot, and Tacitus in the U.S. in 2020. The operation appeared poised for a solid 2021 season, with the majority of its accomplished runners returning to training in addition to several rising young stars. On Saturday, the Juddmonte colors were to be carried by a pair of promising 3-year-olds in points races for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively, at Fair Grounds. The unbeaten colt Mandaloun is entered in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes, and the promising filly Sun Path in the Silverbulletday Stakes.

In addition to its other runners, Juddmonte's U.S. operation is also looking forward to its first homebred juveniles by its Eclipse Award champion and leading money-winner Arrogate this season. Arrogate sired what will be three crops prior to his untimely death last year. Juddmonte supported him with many of its best mares, including multiple Grade 1 winner Sightseek, Kentucky Oaks winner Flute, the latter’s stakes-performing daughter Filimbi, and Rising Tornado, dam of champion Close Hatches.