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The King of Horse Racing: Photos

Mar 29 2007

Back to: The Sheik Who Would Be King of Horse Racing

Princess Haya
Dubai World Cup
Godolphin
Sheik Maktoum and his brothers
yearling auction
The winning colt
John Magnier
1 of 12
Desert Reign
Sheik Mohammed’s passion is his horses. The ruling family’s stables in Dubai feel like a chunk of Kentucky planted between the skyscrapers and the sand. Photographed with junior wife Princess Haya and the colt Truly Royal in February 2007.
Finish Lines and Bloodlines
The Maktoums’ mark on worldwide Thoroughbred racing includes creating the Dubai World Cup at Nad al-Sheba.
New Construction
Building an international racing stable, Godolphin.
Three Brothers
The three oldest brothers—sheiks Maktoum, Mohammed, and Hamdan—learned to ride from their father, Sheik Rashid.
Bluegrass Showdown
At the 2006 auction, Darley head John Ferguson, Princess Haya, and Sheik Mohammed, sweat out each raise as they compete for—and win—a colt that Magnier wants.
The Winning Colt
The price to buy the top pick: a near-record $11.7 million.
Chief Rival
Irish billionaire John Magnier.