Schickedanz's Stellar Performance; Godolphin's Dominance in 2025
For the third consecutive year, Bruno Schickedanz emerged as the top North American owner by victories, with his stable amassing an impressive 151 wins from 1,138 starts in 2025. Meanwhile, Godolphin continued its reign as the highest-earning owner, securing the top spot in earnings for the fifth year in a row.
Sheikh Mohammed's renowned global Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation, Godolphin, demonstrated its prowess by finishing the year with nearly four times the earnings of the second-place Klaravich Stables. Godolphin's horses achieved remarkable success, securing 104 wins from 448 starts in 2025, and earned a staggering $22,395,556 from their victories. This marked Godolphin's most successful year to date, including a historic achievement in the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Sovereignty, who also claimed the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Good Cheer, making it a Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby Double, a feat unmatched by any other owner/breeder since 1952.
Sovereignty's exceptional performance continued in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, where he dominated the race by a comfortable 10 lengths. However, he was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar due to a fever, but remains a strong contender for Horse of the Year.
Godolphin's dominance extended to graded stakes races, winning 22 of them in 2025, with eight being grade 1.
In addition to Schickedanz's impressive 151 wins, his stable also achieved 150 runner-up finishes, 145 shows, and accumulated earnings of $3,835,311. Schickedanz expressed his passion for winning and praised his team's dedication.
Schickedanz attributed his stable's success to strategic race placements, emphasizing the importance of matching horses with suitable races.
Despite his stable's focus on claimers, Schickedanz boasted two graded stakes winners in 2025: Classic Mo Town, the Eclipse Stakes (G2) winner at Woodbine, and Old Chestnut, the Cartier Stakes (G3) champion.
Looking ahead, Schickedanz expressed optimism for the future, owning around 100 broodmares, with foals born in Florida and Canada. He also mentioned a small number of yearlings and horses in training, highlighting his commitment to the sport.
Schickedanz's dedication to his horses' well-being and development was evident in his approach, avoiding over-pushing them to ensure their optimal growth.
Schickedanz's stable operates with a diverse composition, including claimers, a small number of public auction purchases, and an estimated 35-40% of homebreds.
Equibase records showcase Schickedanz's remarkable achievement of 2,942 total wins since 2000. With his wins not included in Equibase's records, Schickedanz aims to reach the 4,000 win milestone in 2026, a feat rarely achieved by owners in the past.
Schickedanz's success and Godolphin's dominance in 2025 have set a high bar for the industry, leaving a lasting impact on Thoroughbred racing.
