“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.
The post ‘Continuity Is The Key’: Juddmonte Group Chief Executive Says Operation Will Go On After Death Of Founder Prince Khalid appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
