Saudi Prince Khalid bin Abdullah posthumously inducted into British flat racing hall of fame

LONDON: The late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah was on Monday posthumously inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame — the official hall of fame for British flat racing.

Saudi Prince Khalid is only the second person to be recognized within the hall of fame’s Special Contributor category, following in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II, who was inducted in 2021.

He was chosen by an independent panel of industry experts in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sport, and his achievements through his breeding and racing operation, Juddmonte.

Prince Khalid’s induction will be officially marked through a special presentation at York Racecourse on Wednesday, on the same day as the Juddmonte International, a race that the organization has supported since 1989.

Douglas Erskine Crum, chief executive of Juddmonte, said: “Prince Khalid was an owner-breeder like no other, with his numerous cherished champions, including perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of them all in Frankel.

“Through Juddmonte, the prince has left a legacy which, now under the direction of his sons Prince Fahad, Prince Saud and Prince Ahmed, continues to have a massive influence on the sport globally, at the same time as giving great pleasure and entertainment to his family.

“Prince Khalid would have been very pleased to be recognized by the British horse racing industry in this way and, on behalf of his whole family, I thank British racing and the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame for this exceptional accolade.”  

Launched in 2021, the hall of fame sets out to immortalize the modern greats of the sport, both human and equine, from 1970 onwards. 

Prince Khalid is the fourth member to be inducted in 2023, following