Who was Khalid Abdullah?

The late Khalid Abdullah, or His Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud, to give him his full title, was one of the most influential, and successful, owner-breeders in the history of horse racing. Abdullah, who died in January, 2021, at the age of 83, recorded his first winner as an owner in Britain, Charming Native, trained by Jeremy Tree and ridden by Lester Piggott, at Windsor in May, 1979.

The following year, Abdullah bought Cayton Park Stud and Pudders Farm in Wargrave-on-Thames, Berkshire, which would become the basis for the hugely successful Juddmonte Farms breeding operation. Nowadays, the operation has 250 horses in training worldwide and, down the years, its familiar racing colours – green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves – have been borne to victory by such luminaries of the sport as Dancing Brave, Frankel and Enable, to name but three.

Indeed, over the last four decades, Abdullah had 118 Group One or Grade One winners worldwide. In Britain alone, he amassed a total of 2,485 wins, including 13 British Classics, and was champion owner three times, in 2003, 2010 and 2011. He won the 2,000 Guineas four times, the Derby three times and the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St. Leger twice apiece. Internationally, he also won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe six times and remains the joint leading owner in the history of the Longchamp showpiece.