Tributes paid to Frankel and Enable’s owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah

PRINCE Khalid Abdullah is today being remembered as one of the great supporters of racing after the world-leading owner-breeder died.

His famous green, pink and white silks have been carried by some of the greats of the turf – including the incomparable Frankel and, more recently, Enable.

And many of the Saudi prince’s favourite – and most famous – moments came at York where the Juddmonte International, the track’s most valuable race, carried the name of his breeding empire.

Small in stature, his presence on the Knavesmire in 2012 provided added poignancy when the sublime Frankel was a runaway winner of the Juddmonte International.

His quiet embrace of the horse’s trainer Sir Henry Cecil, by then losing an unequal struggle with cancer, showed what the race meant to him.

Many would have retired Frankel at the end of his three-year-old career in 2011. Yet Prince Khalid gave his equine superstar a chance to fulfil his greatness – and the colt’s 14-race unbeaten record will always define Cecil.

He’d also stood by Cecil during the trainer’s fallow years when many other leading owners had deserted the iconic trainer – and that loyalty was characteristic.

“It’s exceptional – I’ve never seen it like that,” said Prince Khalid after watching Frankel produce the run of his life on, arguably, the greatest day in York Racecourse’s rich history.

More recently, he allowed Enable, the dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine, to remain in training so she could attempt to win European racing’s defining middle distance contest for a historic third time.

Unfortunately bad ground scuppered the chances of the two-time Yorkshire Oaks winner who has illuminated the careers of the champion trainer John Gosden and the horse’s peerless jockey Frankie Dettori.

Prince Khalid’s fondness of York – and Yorkshire – were exemplified by his longstanding racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe who hails from Westow.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of His Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah,” posted York Racecourse in a statement shortly after the sad news was confirmed.

“So many great memories as a result of his love of racing and support of the Juddmonte International.”

Prince Khalid’s interest in horse racing could be traced back to the 1950s.

He first became an owner in the mid-1970s and, in 1979, won his first Group 1 with Known Fact in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket and purchased his first broodmare with the private acquisition of Metair.

And his influence was clear to see when Dancing Brave streaked home under the late Pat Eddery to land the 1986 Arc after just failing to overhaul Shahrastani in the Epsom Derby under the luckless Greville Starkey.

For 40 years, Juddmonte’s achievements have resulted from his enthusiasm and direct involvement, which has translated into an in-depth knowledge of his horses, their pedigrees and their families.

The Prince’s time spent in the early days developing his understanding, finding the right horses, the right farms and the right people to look after them established the foundations for Juddmonte’s track record.

Douglas Erskine Crum, the Juddmonte chief executive, said: “The whole of Juddmonte feels a huge sense of loss.

“Prince Khalid will always be remembered as a quiet, dignified, benevolent family man, whose horses spoke for him.

“He leaves a legacy that will stand the test of time.

“His contribution to the development of the thoroughbred will have long-lasting effects.”

More recently the 83-year-old’s instantly recognisable colours were carried with distinction by the Roger Charlton pair of Headman and Quadrilaterial.

Charlton, who saddled Quest for Fame to win the 1990 Derby for Prince Abdullah when still a novice trainer, spoke for many in racing when he said: “I owe him everything.”

He went on: “It’s very sad. He made a huge contirbution.

“I’ve known him for over 40 years and the whole of the racing industry apprciates the immense amount he achieved with Juddmonte Farms both in the breeding side and obviously on the racecourse.”

He said the presence of a Prince Khalid horse in any yard could lift the morale because of the esteem in which he was held in the sport.

“He was a wonderful owner to deal with and I owe him everything and it’s a huge loss,” he added.

“He was hugely knowledgable and one of the most important things is he just had real passion for it. I think it is important because any owner-breeder goes through rough patches, bad years, bad horses, bad stallions, but his passion was always there right until to the end.

“We’re all going to miss him very much.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.