Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud (1937–2021)
Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1937 Ta'if, Saudi Arabia |
| Died | January 2021 |
| Occupation(s) | Prince, Entrepreneur, Racehorse owner and breeder |
| Known for | Owner of Juddmonte Farms, Mawarid Holding |
Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud (; 1937 – January 2021) was a Saudi prince and entrepreneur, widely recognized for owning Juddmonte Farms. He oversaw a variety of business ventures through Mawarid Holding, but his international prominence largely stemmed from his success in thoroughbred horse racing, with notable champions such as Arrogate, Dancing Brave, Enable, Frankel, and Mandaloun.
Early life
Prince Khalid was born in Ta'if in 1937 as a son of Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman, who was the half-brother of King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia. He pursued historical studies both in the United States and Riyadh before beginning his career at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Subsequently, he embarked on a prosperous business path under the guidance of the influential businessman Sulaiman S. Olayan.
Business career
In October 1980, Khalid bin Abdullah, alongside Suleiman Olayan, acquired shares from First Chicago Corporation and held stakes in multiple American financial institutions, including Mellon Bank (Pittsburgh), Western Bancorp (Los Angeles), Valley National Bank (Phoenix), Hawaii Bancorp (Honolulu), Southeast Bancorp (Miami), National City Bank (Cleveland), and First Bank Systems (Minneapolis).
Mawarid Holding served as Prince Khalid’s main corporate entity, ranking among Saudi Arabia’s largest and most diversified private companies. Its portfolio extended across sectors such as financial services, manufacturing, construction, medical supplies, catering, telecommunications, and media. A 2001 report linked him to ownership or control of 65 companies. Additionally, he owned Orbit Communications Company, a private pay-TV operator based in Bahrain. Until February 2009, he held chairmanship positions at both the Saudi Chemical Company and the Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company.
By the early 2000s, some management duties had shifted to his four sons. In 1990, Fortune magazine valued his net worth at approximately $1 billion.
Development
Although Prince Khalid’s father possessed horses, he did not engage in racing them. Prince Khalid's exposure to horseracing began during a 1956 trip to Longchamp; however, he only started acquiring racehorses in the late 1970s. His initial yearling investments marked the beginning of substantial Middle Eastern involvement that significantly influenced the sport.
In 1977, his first racing advisor, former trainer Humphrey Cottrill, purchased four yearlings for him at Newmarket. The following year, Prince Khalid secured the top two lots at the Houghton Sales, including Sand Hawk for a record price of 264,000 guineas. Despite this investment and later high-priced Convention (which sold for 1.4 million guineas in 1983), both horses failed to meet expectations. However, Cottrill and trainer Jeremy Tree acquired a dark bay colt sired by In Reality at the 1978 Keeneland Sales for $225,000—Known Fact—who went on to win the Middle Park Stakes in 1979 and claimed victory in the 2,000 Guineas in 1980 after Nureyev’s disqualification, followed by triumph in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
The win by Known Fact in the 2,000 Guineas marked Prince Khalid’s first English Classic success and represented the inaugural Classic victory by an Arab owner. His first winner had been Charming Native at Windsor during the previous season, while Abeer earned his initial Royal Ascot win by capturing the Queen Mary Stakes.
Success
The green silks with white sleeves and a pink sash, uniquely worn by Prince Khalid, became emblematic of triumph in Classic races across the globe. In 1985, Rainbow Quest secured victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, followed by Dancing Brave in 1986, who also triumphed in both the 2,000 Guineas and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, narrowly missing out on the Epsom Derby crown.
Juddmonte's breeding program was responsible for producing Europe's Champion Miler, Warning, in 1988. Prince Khalid accomplished the exceptional achievement of winning all five British Classic races with horses bred in-house: Quest For Fame claimed the Epsom Derby in 1990, succeeded by Commander In Chief in 1993, and later by Workforce, who set a new course record at Epsom in 2010. Additional distinguished winners include Toulon (St Leger, 1991), Zafonic (2,000 Guineas, 1993), Frankel (2,000 Guineas, 2011), Reams of Verse (The Oaks, 1997), Enable (The Oaks, 2017), Wince (1,000 Guineas, 1999), and Special Duty (1,000 Guineas, 2010).
Bred over three generations by Prince Khalid through his mare Kind, Frankel dominated numerous Group One contests including the Juddmonte-sponsored International Stakes at York. Named after trainer Bobby Frankel, this horse is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses ever recorded.
Juddmonte also achieved multiple French Classic victories: Sanglamore and New Bay won the Prix du Jockey Club in 1990 and 2015 respectively; Houseproud, Zenda, and Special Duty triumphed in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches; Jolypha and Nebraska Tornado captured the Prix de Diane; Raintrap and Sunshack secured wins in the Prix Royal-Oak; American Post took the Poule d'Essai des Poulains; while Rail Link, Workforce, and Enable claimed victories in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe between 2006 and 2018.
In Ireland, Juddmonte-bred competitors earned prestigious titles including the Irish Oaks with Wemyss Bight and Bolas; Kingman won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2014. Across North America, Juddmonte's Empire Maker captured the Belmont Stakes in 2003; Flute won the Kentucky Oaks that same year; Arrogate secured four Grade One titles including the Dubai World Cup and was honored as Longines World's Best Horse in 2017. Champion mares such as Ryafan, Banks Hill, Intercontinental, and Midday further enhanced Juddmonte's reputation through multiple Breeders' Cup victories.
At the 2018 Breeders' Cup, homebred horses Enable and Expert Eye took wins in the Turf and Mile events respectively, highlighting Juddmonte's ongoing supremacy on the international racing stage.
Recognition
In North America, Prince Khalid received the Eclipse Award for Top Owner on four occasions: 1992, 2003, 2016, and 2017. Additionally, he was honored as Top Breeder five times between 1995 and 2009. In 2003, he ranked third among American owners.
In Europe, he earned champion owner status in both Britain and France during 2003 with 78 winners in Britain and 58 across France. He reclaimed the British flat racing champion owner title again in 2010 with a tally of 74 winners amassing over £3 million in prize money, followed by another championship in 2011 with 63 winners generating more than £3.4 million.
Prince Khalid was granted honorary membership of The Jockey Club in 1983. In recognition of his contributions to racing, he was posthumously inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame as a 'Special Contributor' in 2023.
Trainers
The early training of Prince Khalid's horses was overseen by Jeremy Tree and Guy Harwood, both of whom had prepared the distinguished competitor Dancing Brave. His roster of European trainers later grew to encompass figures such as Henry Cecil, Barry Hills, Criquette Head-Maarek, André Fabre, Francis-Henri Graffard, Henri-François Devin, Dermot Weld, Ger Lyons, and in England, the duo John and Thady Gosden, Sir Michael Stoute, Hugo Palmer, Roger Charlton, Charlie Hills, and Ralph Beckett. In the United States, management of his stable was long entrusted to Bobby Frankel and subsequently passed to Bill Mott, Bob Baffert, Brad Cox, and Chad Brown.
Juddmonte Farms
In 1982, Khalid bin Abdullah purchased Cayton Park Stud located at Wargrave in Berkshire and rebranded it as Juddmonte Farms, which was later sold in 2017. He cultivated an elite broodmare collection, initially acquiring mares from Robert Sangster. By 2011, Lord Grimthorpe described this lineup as "one of the greatest brood-mare bands in the history of breeding."
The British Juddmonte facilities encompassed Estcourt Estate in Gloucestershire, Juddmonte Dullingham, Side Hill Stud, and Banstead Manor Stud based in Newmarket, Suffolk. Prominent stallions stationed there included Dansili, Oasis Dream, Frankel, and Kingman.
Additionally, Juddmonte owns Ferrans Stud and New Abbey Stud in Ireland, along with Juddmonte Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
Douglas Erskine Crum serves as CEO of the Juddmonte Group. Management of English studs falls under Simon Mockridge; Barry Mahon directs operations in Ireland and European Racing; while Garrett O'Rourke is responsible for the US division.
Prince Khalid personally supervised horse distribution and mating decisions. In a 2010 discussion, he highlighted the importance of establishing robust bloodlines rather than simply purchasing racehorses, drawing inspiration from personalities like the Aga Khan and Lord Howard de Walden.
By 2017, Juddmonte employed approximately 250 staff globally, overseeing a population of 700–800 horses with around 250 actively racing.
Personal life and death
Prince Khalid was wed to his cousin Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz, daughter of King Abdulaziz. Together they had four sons and three daughters. Their daughter Nuf married Prince Fahd, son of King Salman; she passed away on 20 July 2021. Another daughter, Fadwa bint Khalid, is married to former Saudi ambassador to the UK, Mohammad bin Nawwaf.
Known for his polite and modest demeanor, Prince Khalid maintained a close friendship with King Fahd.
His son Saud holds the positions of deputy chairman at Al Mawarid Holding and vice chairman at Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network.
Prince Khalid passed away on 12 January 2021.
Homes
Prince Khalid owned several residences both within Saudi Arabia and internationally, strategically situated near his training facilities and key Classic race venues. In the United States, he possessed a residence in Kentucky. His European properties included a Paris townhouse on Parc Monceau; an estate beside Lake Mondsee in Austria; as well as multiple homes across the UK: London, Newmarket, Gloucestershire (Estcourt Park), Long Newnton, and the expansive 1,000-acre Fairlawne Estate in Kent near Shipbourne. Since 1990, he also held ownership of Newabbey House in Kildare.