Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Death Alters Sport

The death of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sept. 21 is a stark reminder of the relatively sudden recent thinning of the ranks of the influential international owners. Earlier losses from the top ranks include Sheikh Ahmed's brother, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, founder of Shadwell Racing, and Juddmonte's Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, both of whom died in 2021, and Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who died in early 2025. While Sheikh Ahmed did not have the global notice of the others, he had a long and significant impact of the sport and his death leaves a void. It also leaves Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and founder of Godolphin, the last survivor of four brothers. Racing has been fortunate that some family members have carried on the tradition with the added twist that women have taken more prominent roles. The Aga Khan Studs have more than thrived since the late proprietor's death with Princess Zahra Aga Khan and racing manager Nemone Routh at the helm, alongside trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. The organization capped a spectacular 2025 with victories, among many others, by Daryz (FR) in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) and Calandagan (IRE) in the Japan Cup (G1T). If anything, 2026 has been better. At Shadwell, Sheikha Hissa not only stepped up after the death of her father, Sheikh Hamdan, but stepped up to the awards platform after this year's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) during the Royal Ascot meet to accept the winner's trophy from Queen Camilla. International Ranking Systems As the year passed the midpoint this summer, several international ranking systems either crossed their energy streams or took hits because of retirements or setbacks. Most have had subsequent follow-up editions but the confluence, coincidental as it was, showed the fragility not only of the horses but the challenges facing ranking systems. On Aug. 13, the Longines World's Best Racehorses Rankings put Hong Kong's super sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) at the top of its list in a tie with Ombudsman (IRE), both rated 131. Bow Echo (IRE) was third, rated 127, with Romantic Warrior (IRE) and Daryz tied for fourth at 126. The expert racing officials from around the globe got the Ka Ying Rising and Daryz parts right. Ka Ying Rising proceeded to win his 21st straight race in Hong Kong and is headed for a repeat try in October in The Everest (G1) in Australia. But Ombudsman finished fourth in the International Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse. And both Bow Echo and Romantic Warrior were retired shortly after the rankings were published. Less than two weeks later, the Cartier Racing Awards committee, which honors European runners, listed Bow Echo the leader for both Horse of the Year and 3-year-old honors, even while noting the colt had been retired after an injury on the gallops. The Cartier Awards are determined by a combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races and a postseason poll of journalists and members of the public. None of that is meant to be critical. As noted, the landscape is composed largely of shifting sand, perhaps saved from the old Belmont Park track, and the ups and downs do keep up interest in the run-up to the big races. Dubai and de Kock South African racing may be seeing some positive return on its long, but ultimately successful, campaign to amend onerous horse export regulations. The decision by the European Union cleared the way for direct export from approved facilities to the EU and, ultimately, to other jurisdictions. American racing, via Dubai, could be an ancillary beneficiary. An early signal is South African trainer Mike de Kock's decision to return to the Dubai World Cup Carnival for the 2026-27 season, as recently reported by the Dubai Racing Club. When de Kock was forced to abandon Dubai in 2022 amid the fallout from the travel ban, he was the Carnival's most successful international trainer with 186 wins. His signal victories included the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T), the Dubai Turf (G1T), the Al Quoz Sprint (G1T), and six trophies from the UAE Derby (G2). De Kock told the Dubai Racing Club he's looking now for horses who can compete at the Carnival as a step toward restoring the country's image as a top source of quality bloodstock. "The thing with racing is that there's short memories," he said. "I've always been determined to get the South African Thoroughbred out there and exposed to the international market, which we need to do again. We've had some really good success in America lately with Gimme A Nother and One Stripe and our horses are certainly really capable when we get a good one." Looking forward to potential contenders this season in Dubai, he added, "If they're good enough, we'd ideally like to send horses onto the USA after the Carnival." Constitution Hill If ever a horse has had ups and downs—literally and figuratively—it's Constitution Hill (GB). It easily could have been the end of the line for the former jumps champion, now 9, when he fell in three of his final four starts in 2025 and was beaten by 27 lengths in the other. Trainer Nicky Henderson, however, saw an opportunity and sent the Blue Bresil gelding off in a new direction, competing on the flat. Defying the skeptics, Constitution Hill started off well enough, winning two minor heats on all-weather courses at Southwell Racecourse and Kempton Park. But, pitched in against tougher in the September Stakes (G3) Sept. 5 at Kempton, he finished fourth and Henderson was forced to recalibrate, targeting turf for the first time in his budding career on the flat. Now it appears he will race in the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) Gran Premio del Jockey Club-Sire Trofeo Pio Bruni (G2) Oct. 25 at San Siro Racecourse in Milan, Italy. He could take heart from the results of the Sankei Sho All Comers (G2) Sept. 20 at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan. In that, 45-1 longshot Meisho Gekirin (JPN) led throughout the 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles) and held on to win by a nose. Meisho Gekirin's two previous starts were in steeplechase events.