Prince Khalid's Legacy Lives On in Laurel River

Prince Khalid bin Abdullah's commitment to breeding world-class Thoroughbreds, competitive spirit, and attention to detail turned Juddmonte Farms into one of the world's most successful racing and breeding operations. His death in 2021 was a great loss for not just Juddmonte, but the entire racing world. However, his direct impact and legacy lives strong in Laurel River, who was named a co-winner alongside City of Troy as the Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2024. "The most important thing about this horse is it is one of the last homebred horses that Prince Khalid decided the matings," Juddmonte CEO Douglas Erskine Crum said while accepting the award Jan. 21. "(Laurel River) is particularly important for us." The mating Prince Khalid chose was Calm Water, a Kentucky-bred daughter of his 2003 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Empire Maker, to champion stallion Into Mischief. The result was Laurel River, who became Juddmonte's fourth homebred to take home the World's Best Racehorse Award. He joins Frankel (GB) (2011-12), Arrogate (2016-17), and Enable (GB) (2019). Beginning his career in California with trainer Bob Baffert, Laurel River won the 2022 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. He then shipped to Kentucky to run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland before ultimately being scratched. He would not enter the starting gate for the entirety of 2023 and when he finally did so in January 2024, it was with trainer Bhupat Seemar in Dubai. "We felt that he should go to the desert," Crum explained. "There is a great pull for the late Prince Khalid's family in Dubai and in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)." The move was symbolic of Laurel River's importance and connection to Abdullah, and Seemar was grateful for the opportunity. "Laurel River has been an absolute sensation since he came to the stables," Seemar said. "He's kept on improving. To have the best in any sport is incredible, and I'm lucky enough to be the trainer of him." WATCH: Seemar Believes Laurel River is 'One in a Million' Having not raced in so long, Seemar said he went easy on Laurel River at first but that the horse's natural ability quickly took over. "He's one of those super-athlete racehorses that has a lot of speed and then the stamina kicks in," Seemar said. "He goes forward and he's got speed for a six-furlong sprinter—a grade 1 sprinter. And he's got stamina for a mile-and-a-quarter grade 1 horse." That speed was on full display last March 2 as he stormed to the lead and dominated 15 competitors by 6 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Burj Nahaar (G3) at Meydan. The effort showed he was back to top form and ready for the challenge of the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), his first start beyond a mile. Seemar and jockey Tadhg O'Shea were quietly confident as they prepared for the onslaught of international competitors from America and Japan. "His training was absolutely phenomenal," Seemar said. "His work was easier and maybe even quicker than some of (our grade 1 sprinters). And his recovery is unbelievable. He can gallop and then come back like he's never done anything. He's just a special, special athlete. He's one in a million." He looked like one in a million on the far turn of the Dubai World Cup as he separated himself early, opening an impossible margin for 2023 World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (JPN) and 2024 Saudi Cup (G1) winner Senor Buscador to overcome. By the end of the 1 1/4 miles, Laurel River was 8 1/2 lengths in front. The performance earned him a 128 rating from the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee, a rating that would stand at the top of the leaderboard throughout the end of the year despite Laurel River not racing again. Instead of flying around the world, Juddmonte kept the horse in his new home, where the world's richest races would again be held in his backyard. "This is why Juddmonte is Juddmonte, they do the best for their horses," Seemar said. "They decided there was no point shipping him across the world while he can defend his title and go to the Saudi Cup." Seemar reports that Laurel River is doing very well ahead of his 7-year-old debut: the Jan. 24 Firebreak Stakes (G3) at Meydan. He will then attempt to be the first horse to win both of the world's richest races as he contests the Feb. 22 Saudi Cup. He already is the first to do something else. Although several past winners on the Dubai World Cup festival card—which Seemar calls the Olympics of horse racing—were named World's Best Horse, no horse based and trained in Dubai had ever earned the honor. "This shows the depth of Dubai racing," Seemar said. "We are getting some of the best racehorses in the world to come and compete."