The best horse racing owners of all time

The history of Thoroughbred horse racing is long and storied. Racehorse owners, each with colorful silks to distinguish their horses from others, have helped chart that history.

In some cases, racehorse owners are involved in breeding as well, testing their horses on track before retiring them to become stallions and broodmares.

Determining the best horse racing owners of all time is, in some ways, an impossible task filled with subjectivity. But viewed through a simplified, data-driven lens, it’s safe to say the following four horse racing owners rank among the best in the history of U.S. — and global — horse racing. The details of the races and awards they’ve won across decades can, and have, filled books.

Belair Stud

Under the management of William Woodward Sr., Belair Stud was a dominant force in U.S. racing during the 1930s. The stable campaigned two Triple Crown winners — Gallant Fox (1930) and his son Omaha (1935) — as well as Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Johnstown (1939) and Belmont winners Faireno (1932) and Granville (1936). Later, William Woodward Jr. enjoyed Preakness and Belmont wins courtesy of 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua.

Calumet Farm

Since its founding in 1924, Calumet Farm has enjoyed abundant success under several different managers. Calumet Farm holds the record for most Kentucky Derby wins by an owner (eight), courtesy of Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Ponder (1949), Hill Gail (1952), Iron Liege (1957), Tim Tam (1958), and Forward Pass (1968). Whirlaway and Citation both swept the Triple Crown.

Godolphin

The internationally successful Godolphin operation races horses around the world, with trainers based in many countries. In the U.S., Godolphin has won six Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Owner, including four in a row from 2020-23. Through 2023, no owner has won more Breeders’ Cup races (18) or purse money at the Breeders’ Cup ($29,441,735) than Godolphin. Acclaimed Godolphin color-bearers in the U.S. include 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish and two-time champion Essential Quality.

Juddmonte

Like Godolphin, Juddmonte has campaigned horses around the world. Founded in 1977 by Saudi Arabia’s Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, Juddmonte has won a record seven editions of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) in France, while the farm’s U.S. exploits include 10 Breeders’ Cup wins, a Kentucky Derby (G1) triumph, and four Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Owner.