The seemingly inexorable rise of champion jockey Billy Loughnane, who captured his first North American grade 1 race by guiding Libertango to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Oct. 30 at Keeneland, has continued with news that the 20-year-old has been appointed as a new retained rider for Godolphin.
Loughnane has had a memorable year, not only landing his first title but also enjoying a breakthrough classic success on Bow Echo in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and triumphing at the Breeders' Cup last week. Now he has been formally snapped up by global bloodstock superpower Godolphin, on whose Rebel's Romance he gained his first group 1 success only last year.
"I am absolutely ecstatic that Godolphin has given me this opportunity. It is a huge honor to become a retained jockey for one of the best racing operations in the world," Loughnane said. "I want to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for giving me the opportunity to ride his outstanding horses at the highest possible competitive level.
"I rode my first group 1 winner in the royal blue silks on Rebel's Romance last year and I look forward to carrying them to victory in many more top-class races over the coming years."
Godolphin's chief operating officer, Hugh Anderson, said: "Godolphin is delighted to have signed the most exciting young jockey riding in Europe. Billy Loughnane is an outstanding rider with a great future in our sport.
"We are thrilled that he has chosen our silks at this early stage in his career and he will formally start with us at the Dubai Carnival in December 2026.
"William Buick has ridden for us with distinction for more than ten years and we are very happy that he will continue as one of our two retained jockeys."
Asked whether Godolphin had acted before anyone else could snap the jockey up, he said: "That was definitely part of it. He's got a great future and a lot of people will be looking at him.
Andereson stressed that Buick remains part of the team and said: "He's been brilliant, he still is brilliant. He's staying with us. As to the hierarchy, I think we've just got to let the seasons develop to see who's going to be riding exactly what. We've got two great jockeys."
Loughnane, who was born into a racing stable as his father is a trainer and who has been riding Thoroughbreds seriously from the age of 12, is Britain's youngest champion jockey for more than a century.
He was champion apprentice in 2023 and has gone from strength to strength since, reaching new heights in 2026 by landing the Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes (both G1) on Bow Echo and last week's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Libertango.
Even without a retainer, he has been a go-to rider for Godolphin, winning 19 races in Britain alone for trainer Charlie Appleby this year, including the group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on Desert Castle.
Buick was among those to praise Loughnane at the time he was crowned champion jockey and said: "What Billy has done this year is incredible. Considering his age, his maturity is extraordinary.
"Being champion jockey is a very hard thing to achieve. He has been super-consistent all through the season. He has received plenty of support, but has deserved it.
"I have seen plenty of him. He's a great guy, and has worked very hard. It is well deserved."
