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Visit Horse Country: Godolphin’s Tradition of Excellence at Jonabell Farm

Industry leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum , the ruler of Dubai, professes a truly worldwide reach in his Thoroughbred racing and breeding operations. His Godolphin Stables campaigns some of the most successful racehorses in competition, many of them homebreds sired by his stallion band, which are dispersed in six countries. Although his breeding headquarters is in Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, England, many of his most successful racehorses in the U.S. trace their bloodlines to Sheikh Mohammed’s stallions at Jonabell Farm in Lexington.

Officially named Godolphin at Jonabell Farm , the bucolic farm is nestled in western Fayette County close to Blue Grass Airport and Keeneland . Currently, it houses 11 stallions, marketed as Darley stallions after the Darley Arabian, one of the three foundation sires of the Thoroughbred breed . (Godolphin Stables is named after another foundation sire, the Godolphin Arabian; the operation’s breeding division was named Darley until Sheikh Mohammed merged his breeding and racing operations in 2016).

Jonabell was founded in 1946 by the late owner and breeder John A. Bell III, a pivotal figure in the Thoroughbred industry who died in 2007. Bell opened the farm at its current location in 1954, and it was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed in 2001.

Godolphin at Jonabell's staff is led by Jimmy Bell, son of John A. Bell III. Many of the younger team members, in Kentucky and around the world, started working for the operation as members of the Flying Start program , a two-year immersive educational and training course designed to produce the next generation of leaders in the horse business.

The Kentucky stallion roster is one of the best in the world, mixing established sires with promising newcomers. Medaglia d’Oro leads the group and ranked fourth on the 2017 general sire list for North America with runners such as Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winter book favorite Bolt d’Oro . Other veteran sires include 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini. Nyquist , the 2016 Kentucky Derby winner, and multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted , a Godolphin homebred, headline the younger stallions.

“Nyquist and Frosted are having their first foals right now, so they’ll be having their second year at stud this year,” said Brianne Sharp, market research coordinator at Godolphin. “Medaglia d’Oro probably had his best year ever, having seven Grade 1 winners last year, so he’s obviously very popular in 2018.”

While Bolt d’Oro was bred by WinStar Farm, two other high-profile Kentucky Derby contenders are Godolphin homebreds, which would bring Sheikh Mohammed to the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May as an owner-breeder should either make the starting gate. Those horses are recent Withers Stakes winner Avery Island (by Street Sense) and 2017 graded stakes winner Enticed (by Medaglia d’Oro).

Godolphin at Jonabell conducts a 90-minute tour as part of the Horse Country experience, which may include visits to stallions depending on their availability. Sharp said that Frosted, a striking gray Thoroughbred, is probably the most popular individual horse standing at Godolphin at Jonabell right now – “From a fan perspective, he has a lot of them.”

But most Horse Country tour visitors are looking to learn about the industry and how Thoroughbreds are developed into racehorses, and Godolphin is an ideal one-stop destination for a well-rounded education.

“We basically tell them how the industry works, how the stallion business works, and we’ll tell them about Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed,” Sharp said. “We’ll go up to the stallion barn and see the stallions and then tell everybody about each of the stallions, and then we’ll go to the breeding shed and talk about the breeding process.”

One new feature for 2018 is Godolphin’s shuttle, which holds 18 and makes transport through the farm’s grounds much easier, adding to the experience. Sharp said that using the shuttle, she and the other tour guides will now be able to drive visitors over to the broodmare barns after the stallion portion to check out mares and new foals. “It just won’t be stallions now, you’ll be able to see mares and babies, and people will love that, being able to see the foals.”

Another highlight of the tour is a visit to the gravesite of 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed , the legendary racehorse whose rivalry with Alydar captivated a nation and who lived at Jonabell Farm for the last ten years of his life.

This year, Horse Country tours at Godolphin at Jonabell Farm start on the first weekend of March and last through late October/early November, held on Thursdays and Fridays in the afternoon. The farm will be participating in the second annual “Meet the NEIGHbors” opening weekend of Horse Country tours , which are free for local residents with limited capacity. To learn more and reserve tickets, click here .

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Named in honour of the Godolphin Arabian, one of the three founding stallions of the modern thoroughbred born in the Arabian Gulf, what started with a handful of horses in the desert has evolved into the foremost international horseracing stable and breeding operation.

Sponsored by Emirates Airline and ‎racing in the famous Royal Blue silks, Godolphin racehorses have won many of the world's most famous races including over 350 G1 races in 14 different countries, across four continents.

To learn more about Godolphin please visit www.godolphin.com

Godolphin: godolphin.com

Sheikh Mohammed: sheikhmohammed.ae

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Visit the sheikh stables in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

More things to do in Dubai

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Try a traditional Arab drink made of dates, grape molasses and pink water — jallab. It is very refreshing in the hot tropical climate.

Go for a ride in an original fully automated metro rail network. Make sure to take a place at the head to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view.

Climb the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa and look at the city from a height of 555 meters.

Walking through the desert Rub-al-Khali, try to find this reptile. You will recognize it by yellow color and a thick, spiked tail.

Climb the tallest building in the world and look at its huge shadow.

Traditional Arab dress will help you protect skin from sweltering weather in the Emirates and feel as if your are a citizen of the city.

Rent an Abra boat and go on a short journey across the Dubai Creek Bay to the heart of Dubai. Reveal the beauty and originality of the historical downtown.

Take a trip to Dubai Mall so that to see a really huge aquarium with thousands of sea animals.

Touch the heritage of the past and get acquainted with the history of the Arabians.

Visit the main shrine of Dubai, the only mosque in the city which you can enter regardless of religion, sex and race.

You should definitely see tons of gold on Dubai Gold Souk market.

Share your ideas of what to do in Dubai with other travellers — together we'll make our travellings more interesting!

Garrod Farms

Scenic horseback riding just 25 minutes from downtown San Jose in the Saratoga foothills. Enjoy a guided horseback ride through the Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards and the Fremont Older Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserve on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains facing San Jose. Trails wander through vineyards and oak chaparral forests teeming with wildlife. Garrod Farms, at a thousand-foot elevation, features spectacular views 

$40-$80 Per Person

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Mon-Sun:  8:30am-4:30pm

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Godolphin Fantasy Stable League Prizes

Winner will receive.

• A behind-the-scenes visit for two people to a Godolphin stud farm, including return travel and accommodation.
• This will include the opportunity to see the Darley stallions, Godolphin mares and young horses, plus a tour of the world-class facilities.
• Official Godolphin merchandise goodie bag.

Runners-up (second to fifth) will receive

• A £75 gift card to spend in the official Godolphin Shop.

Wine tasting

Come taste wine where the grapes are grown, horseback riding, enjoy a guided trail ride or riding lesson with views of our vineyards and silicon valley.

A family-owned estate winery and stables

Garrod Farms is a family-owned and operated estate winery and stables. We offer wine tasting, horseback riding, and horse boarding in the Saratoga foothills, just minutes from Silicon Valley.

The Garrod family began its involvement with California agriculture and open space in 1893, purchasing 66 acres from the Mount Eden Orchard and Vineyard Company. For decades we produced dried prunes and apricots, like much of Santa Clara Valley, which was known then as “The Valley of Heart’s Delight.” In the late 1950s, the valley started to become less agricultural and more developed. Our aging orchards were replaced by an equestrian center, providing boarding for privately owned horses as well as trail riding and lessons for the general public.

Sophia and David Garrod immigrate from England along with their three children: R.V., Harold, and Maisie.  They purchase this property, then known as the Mt. Eden Orchard and Vineyard Company, and begin farming.  They produce dried prunes and apricots.

Garrod Farms switches from being an orchard operation to being a Stables, providing boarding, lessons, and trail rides.

Come ride a horse! Garrod Farms Stables offers horseback riding lessons, trail rides, and pony rides to the general public, plus boarding for privately owned horses.

Come taste wine where the grapes are grown! Cooper-Garrod Vineyards offers daily wine tasting of select 100% estate-grown, produced, and bottled wine.

The Cooper-Garrod Wine Club offers quarterly releases with a 20% discount, as well as complimentary tastings for members and up to three guests when they visit our winery, plus access to special Club events throughout the year.

Garrod Farms has five riding arenas (one covered), two longing arenas, a round pen, three horse wash racks, limited trailer parking, and access to over twenty miles of trails! Rates are per month, per horse, and include feed twice daily.

Summer Camp

Horse Camp is a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn about horses, including grooming, saddling, bridling, general horse knowledge, and most importantly, riding! Camps include riding lessons, trail rides, and the chance to try the sport of vaulting.

Our lessons are provided in both Western and English styles. We recommend that all students begin with the Western-style; they may switch to English when the instructor deems them ready. All of our instructors are CHA-Certified, therefore trained in both safety management and teaching techniques.

For little riders under eight years old, 20 minute Pony Rides are available. Children must be old enough to sit-up with control and comfort. All pony walks will have a handler. Each child must be accompanied by an adult.

22645 Garrod Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 867-7116 [email protected]

22645 Garrod Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 867-9527 [email protected]

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Horse Racing News

Weekend Lineup: Oaklawn Handicap Draws 11, Three Preakness Spots Up For Grabs

Three Grade 2 races offer intriguing competition this weekend in the United States, each at a different racetrack. The G2 Oaklawn Handicap drew a field of 11, with seven graded stakes winners in the lineup led by Skippylongstocking and Red Route One. That card also features the listed Bath House Row, which offers the winner a berth in the Preakness Stakes. A Preakness berth is also available to winners of this weekend's Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel and the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. The G2 Elkhorn at Keeneland Saturday also drew a field of 11, this one led by a pair of Charlie Appleby trainees for the Godolphin team in Bold Act and Silver Knott. Saturday's card in Lexington also includes the G3 Ben Ali Stakes. Later this weekend, on Sunday, the G2 Santa Maria Stakes could see Desert Dawn become a millionaire at Santa Anita Park. 

4:44 p.m. - Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland Bold Act (IRE) and Silver Knott (GB), two overseas invaders from the powerful Godolphin stable, top a field of 11 entered for the $350,000 Elkhorn for 4-year-olds and up going 1½ miles on the turf. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Bold Act returns to Keeneland, where he won the Sycamore (G3) last fall. After a nearly five-month layoff, Bold Act opened 2024 with a victory in the Dubai City of Gold (G2) at Meydan Racecourse on March 2 going about 1½ miles. Frankie Dettori has the mount Saturday from post 4. Silver Knott, who raced most of 2023 in the U.S – compiling a record of 5-0-1-3 – returns to Keeneland, where he finished second beaten a nose in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Flavien Prat has the mount from post 11. Also in the field is 2022 Sycamore winner Highland Chief (IRE) for owner Mrs. Fitri Hay and trainer Graham Motion. John Velazquez has the mount from post 3. Elkhorn Entries

6:52 p.m. - Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park Seven graded stakes winners are among 11 entered in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn, a 1 1/8-mile event for older runners. Program favorite Skippylongstocking is trying to give Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. his first career Oaklawn victory. Although Skippylongstocking is a multiple graded stakes winner of $1,654,185, the 5-year-old by Exaggerator has never won consecutive races in his career. He exits a 2 ½-length victory in the G3 Challenger Stakes for older horses March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. Late-running millionaire Red Route One exits a victory in the G2 New Orleans Classic for older horses at 1 1/8 miles March 23 at Fair Grounds for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The Gun Runner colt made four starts last year at Oaklawn, including three in Kentucky Derby qualifying races.  Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert seeks his third seven-figure victory this season at Oaklawn with Grade 3 winner Reincarnate, a colt by Good Magic. In his only start this year, Reincarnate finished third, beaten 2 ½ lengths, in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 ¼ miles March 3 at Santa Anita. Regally bred Highland Falls exits a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap, his stakes debut, for trainer Brad Cox and breeder/owner Godolphin. The 4-year-old colt is by two-time Horse of the Year and leading sire Curlin out of G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Round Pond – both multiple Oaklawn stakes winners. Highland Falls, beaten 2 ¾ lengths in the Santa Anita Handicap, will be cutting back to nine furlongs in his sixth lifetime start. Oaklawn Handicap Entries

8:00 p.m. - Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita Park Veteran 5-year-old mare Desert Dawn will try and achieve millionaire status Sunday when she takes on seven rivals in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Desert Dawn makes her third start of the year with a career bankroll totaling $974,525. In January, the Cupid mare kicked off her 5-year-old season with a win in the G3 La Canada going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. She exits a fourth-place finish in the G1 Beholder Mile here March 9. A new face in the lineup is South American import Super Shine, who is also trained by D’Amato. Bred in Argentina, the 5-year-old Super Saver mare was a multiple group stakes winner and twice Group 1-placed in her native country. She makes her U.S. bow for owner R Unicorn Stable. Coffee in Bed will look for an improved effort after never being a factor when sixth in the Beholder Mile. Trained by Richard Mandella, Coffee in Bed previously was beaten just a length by Desert Dawn when second in the La Canada. Turnerloose, also trained by D’Amato, returns to dirt seeking her first win in California. She was previously a stakes winner in 2021 in Kentucky and 2022 in Louisiana while trained by Brad Cox. A 5-year-old Nyquist mare, Turnerloose arrived in California last summer and has made six starts, all in stakes. In her two most recent outings, she was third in the G3 Bayakoa on dirt at Los Alamitos in December and fourth in the G3 Wilshire at one mile on turf here April 4. Santa Maria Entries

This article first appeared on Paulick Report and was syndicated with permission.

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