The Godolphin Stables houses a thorough breed of race horses. It is the Maktoum family’s private horseracing stable. It was originally built by Frederick Stanley some time in 1903 in the horse racing town of Newmarket in Suffolk, England, and was then called as the Stanley House Stables. Later in 1992, it was acquired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, an absolute monarch in Dubai and the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates.
Epsom Downs winner Antara with Frankie Dettori
It was renamed as Godolphin Stables, in honor of the Godolphin Arabian, the horse that came from the desert that shall become one of the three founding stallions of modern breed.
The stable has training facilities in both Dubai, in the UAE and in Newmarket, in the UK. The international operation of Godolphin Stable commenced in 1994 and has won races in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong and in the UK among others for a total of 128 international racecourses. It has gained international fame in September 2009 when the well-travelled Balius has made the first victory for Godolphin in Turkey. Up to now, the Godolphin Stables actively participates in the major races in Europe, USA and Asia.
Godolphin Stables has enshrined many horses into their Hall of Fame. The consolidation of horses by the Godolphin Stables has made it won over 1,700 races in the world, highlighted by the 202, 200 and 122 wins in 2009, 2010 and 2001, respectively. Several other awards include an recognition for champion trainers, jockeys and an Eclipse Award for a Champion Owner.
[ Photo, courtesy of Krista 'V' ]