Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Dies At 75

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and one of the world's leading owner/breeders, has died. He was 75.

For the past 40 years, Sheikh Hamdan has raced a powerful string of horses around the world, many of them homebred through his Shadwell Stud operation. His royal blue and white silks have been borne by 19 European Classic winners, including the Derby winners Nashwan and Erhaab, while his major victories around the globe include the Breeders' Cup Classic, two Melbourne Cups and two Dubai World Cups.

A statement released by Shadwell Stud on Wednesday morning read, “It is with great sadness that Shadwell announces the death of His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He died peacefully on Wednesday, 24 March 2021.

Like his brother, the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan was drawn to horseracing during his student days in Britain. He initially had horses in training in Newmarket with Harry Thomson 'Tom' Jones in 1981. Since then, his influence in the sport worldwide has spread to include his ownership of stud farms in the UK, Ireland and America. It was announced in February that 59 mares, fillies and weanlings that comprise Shadwell's Australian breeding portfolio will be dispersed at the Magic Millions National Sale in May and June.

In 2020, Sheikh Hamdan was crowned leading owner in Britain for the fifth time with 112 winners led by the outstanding sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and including the homebred dual Gr.1 winner Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Gr.1Sussex S. Winner Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). The latter has recently joined a team of four stallions at Shadwell's Nunnery Stud in Thetford, Norfolk. 

The operation also stands five stallions at Derrinstown Stud in Ireland, including Sheikh Hamdan's most recent Classic winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). In America, the Kentucky-based Shadwell Farm is home to the sires Tamarkuz, Mohaymen and Qurbaan. Sheikh Hamdan received the 2007 Eclipse Award as the leading owner in North America, where he has raced such leading lights as Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes), GI Belmont S. winner Jazil (Seeking The Gold), Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).

Also winner of the GI Flower Bowl Invitational in 2007, Lahudood is the grandam of Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was one of six winners for Sheikh Hamdan during last year's Royal Ascot meeting. The sextet included the Gr.1King's Stand S. victory of Battaash, one of the most popular horses in training in the UK who went on to secure his second consecutive victory in the Gr.1 Nunthorpe S. at York in August.  

Shadwell's six Royal Ascot wins were provided by five different trainers, which is indicative of the widespread support Sheikh Hamdan has provided for a wide range of racing's participants. From his initial patronage of Thomson Jones, his British string expanded to the stables of John Dunlop, Robert Armstrong, John Benstead, Peter Walwyn, Alec Stewart and Major Dick Hern. Over the years the names William Haggas, John Gosden, Marcus Tregoning, Barry Hills, Charlie Hills, Owen Burrows, Richard Hannon and Roger Varian have been added to the list of his trainers in the UK. Kevin Prendergast and Dermot Weld have been Shadwell's long-term trainers in Ireland, while in France he utilised John Hammond, Freddy Head, Jean-Claude Rouget and Francois Rohaut. Naturally, Sheikh Hamdan also supported the growth of horseracing in his native country, where his trainers include Doug Watson, Erwan Charpy and Ali Al Rayhi, and he was also a key patron of Kiaran McLaughlin in the United States and David Hayes in Australia.

In 1984, Sheikh Hamdan bought the 2,400-hectare Shadwell Estate in Norfolk and set about establishing the headquarters of his worldwide breeding operation which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019. 

One of his most significant early equine purchases was that of Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}), who raced for her breeder The Queen, winning the Gr.1Fillies Mile, Gr.2 Princess Of Wales's S. and Gr.2 May Hill S. before joining the burgeoning broodmare band at Shadwell Stud. Her second foal was the multiple Group winner Unfuwain (Northern Dancer), but better was to come the following year when she foaled Nashwan (Blushing Groom), who went on to win the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. Both colts, trained like their dam by Major Dick Hern, became important stallions for their breeder, and they were followed some 12 years later by Height Of Fashion's final foal, Nayef (Gulch), who won the Gr.1Champion S., Gr.1Juddmonte International, Gr.1Prince of Wales's S. and Gr.1Dubai Sheema Classic for Hern's former assistant Marcus Tregoning. The mare's mighty legacy has also been enhanced by her listed-winning daughter Sarayir (Mr Prospector), who later produced the 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway).