Douglas Erskine Crum | Horse Racing Free Tips

Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Inducted Into QIPCO British Champions Hall of Fame

The late Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah has been posthumously inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, and is just the second person to be recognised within the Special Contributor category. He follows in the footsteps of 2021 inductee Queen Elizabeth II. Chosen by an independent panel of experts, in recognition of his contribution to the sport, his achievements through the breeding and racing operation Juddmonte leave a lasting legacy. The Prince's induction will be officially marked through a special presentation at York Racecourse on Wednesday, Aug. 23, the same day as the G1 Juddmonte International S., a race that Juddmonte has supported since 1989.

Crowning his achievements and influence on the racing landscape is the venerable Frankel (GB), flawless in his career and crowned Champion sire in 2021, as well as globetrotting wondermare, Enable (GB). Juddmonte-owned horses have won 76 races thus far in 2023 with Group or Grade I wins from Elite Power, Whitebeam (GB), Westover (GB), Chaldean (GB), and Set Piece (GB).

“Prince Khalid was an owner-breeder like no other, with his numerous cherished champions, including perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of them all in Frankel. Through his racing and breeding operation, Juddmonte, the Prince has left a legacy which, now under the direction of his sons, Prince Fahad, Prince Saud and Prince Ahmed, continues to have a massive influence on the sport globally, at the same time as giving great pleasure and entertainment to his family,” said Douglas Erskine Crum, Chief Executive of Juddmonte.

“Prince Khalid would have been very pleased to be recognised by the British horse racing industry in this way and, on behalf of his whole family, I thank British racing and the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame for this exceptional accolade.”

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Juddmonte And Keeneland Continue Their Curragh Race Sponsorship

Juddmonte and Keeneland have renewed their sponsorships of the Curragh's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Phoenix S., respectively.

The feature race of the two-day Juddmonte Irish Oaks Weekend on Saturday, July 22, the Juddmonte Irish Oaks has been won three times by horses carrying the Juddmonte colours with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (2017), Bolas (GB) (Unfuwain) (1994) and Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave) in 1993. Currently there are 87 first entries for the €500,000 summer Classic, including Juddmonte's debut winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Juddmonte started as the sponsor of the G2 Beresford S. in 1988; sponsored the G1 Pretty Polly S. in 2018, and began sponsoring the Irish Oaks in 2020.

Douglas Erskine-Crum, CEO of Juddmonte, said “Juddmonte is delighted to renew our sponsorship of the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. It is extremely important to Juddmonte to support Irish racing and breeding and appreciate its sizeable contribution to the wider industry; we feel the Irish Oaks and Curragh racecourse are perfectly placed to demonstrate this commitment.”

Brian Kavanagh, CEO Curragh Racecourse, Ltd., said “We are delighted to be able to announce the extension of Juddmonte's sponsorship of the Irish Oaks and look forward to a quality renewal as always in July. Juddmonte have been fantastic supporters of the Curragh and of the industry here in Ireland for many years as owners, breeders and sponsors and we greatly look forward to our continued partnership with them in this prestigious race. The Irish Oaks has been won by some wonderful fillies over the years, including the great Enable in 2017.”

Starting their sponsorship of the Phoenix S. in 2010, Keeneland will extend their commitment to the race for another three years. In 2022, Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) took the prize and was crowned Europe's Champion 2-Year-old with a mark of 124. Prize-money will increase to €350,000 in 2024 and then €400,000 in 2025.

Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of Keeneland, said, “Keeneland's close connection with the Irish bloodstock and racing industries goes back many decades and we are delighted to celebrate that ongoing bond with the continuation of this longstanding sponsorship.

“We witnessed Little Big Bear win one of the best renewals of the Keeneland Phoenix S. last season, with a performance that this week saw him crowned Europe's champion juvenile, and we look forward to working with the Curragh to continue to grow the race in future years.”

Added Kavanagh, “Keeneland have been a valued partner for the Curragh for many years and we are delighted to be able to announce this extension and enhancement of their sponsorship. They are a pleasure to deal with and the ties between Keeneland and the Irish racing and breeding industries have become stronger in recent years. Their commitment to increasing prize-money for the race over the next three years is most welcome and we greatly look forward to working with Keeneland on this sponsorship.”

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Grimthorpe Steps Downs As Juddmonte Farms’ European Racing Manager

Juddmonte announce Thursday that The Lord “Teddy” Grimthorpe has decided to stand down after 22 years as Juddmonte Farms' racing manager.

As racing manager for Juddmonte's late owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, Grimthorpe managed all Juddmonte's European horses in training and played a leading role in Juddmonte's consistent and sustained success worldwide at the very highest level in racing. Teddy will leave Juddmonte after this year's Royal Meeting.

Taking over the racing manager's role in 1999 he has, during his tenure, worked with 24 European trainers looking after over 3,000 horses in training, of which 1,400 won over 2,400 races including very nearly 100 Group 1 wins. The list of famous horses with which Teddy was involved includes such names as Enable, Frankel, Banks Hill, Rail Link, Special Duty, Workforce, Twice Over, Midday, Oasis Dream and Kingman.

Teddy is currently deputy senior steward of the British Jockey Club and, having been chairman of York Racecourse for nine years, remains on the York Racecourse board.

Teddy Grimthorpe said:

“I have always felt that the time for me to stand down from Juddmonte would be when Prince Khalid was no longer involved. It has been a huge privilege to work for the Prince and his family, and with the outstanding Juddmonte team, which has been so successful for so long. Of course I am sad to leave, but, with the Prince's death two months ago and over 20 years as his racing manager, now is the right time. I leave an organization in great shape which is supreme at what it does, and I have no doubt Juddmonte will continue to thrive and produce top-class homebred thoroughbred horses competing at the highest level on racecourses across the world.”

Douglas Erskine Crum, chief executive of Juddmonte, said:

“On behalf of Prince Khalid's family and all of us past and present at Juddmonte, I thank Teddy for all he has done to help the organization be at the very top of its game year after year. He will be sorely missed and we wish him the very best of good fortune for the future.”

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‘Continuity Is The Key’: Juddmonte Group Chief Executive Says Operation Will Go On After Death Of Founder Prince Khalid

“Juddmonte will continue.”

Those refreshing words came from Douglas Erskine Crum, chief executive of the Juddmonte Group, during a television interview on Saturday with ITV Racing in the UK.

“Continuity is the key for any breeding and racing operation,” Erskine Crum said, four days after the death of Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah, who developed Juddmonte into an international breeding and racing powerhouse, with farms in England, Ireland and Kentucky.

“No change,” Erskine Crum added. “The family has been for some time and still is very committed to keeping Juddmonte as it is … focusing on the broodmare band, focusing on the home-bred operation.”

Erskine Crum said one of the last things Prince Khalid was involved with was planning the 2021 matings for a broodmare band of about 200. Many will go to Juddmonte's own world-class stallions, including Frankel and Kingman, he added.

“And those horses will be born next year and will race as 3-year-olds in 2025,” he said, “so if we have a champion in 2025 you will be able to say the Prince was actually involved directly in the decision making.”

Erskine Crum added that, several years ago, Prince Khalid made adjustments to the business, cutting back on the number of broodmares he retained.

“Those changes are necessary to keep the business running and also necessary to make sure that essential continuity of the broodmare is enhanced.”

Over the last 40 years, some of the world's best Thoroughbreds have carried the green, pink and white Juddmonte silks, from Dancing Brave to Frankel to Enable. Juddmonte has won five Eclipse Awards as North America's outstanding breeder and four times was voted outstanding owner. Juddmonte Farms has been champion owner on multiple occasions in France and the United Kingdom. Juddmonte is also all-time leading Breeders' Cup owner by money won in championship races.

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