Sheikh Mohammed has reportedly paid £4.4 million to secure a team for his Godolphin operation in the upcoming Horse Racing League (HRL), a new team-based competition being launched by figures behind the success of Formula 1.
Founding Partners and Launch Plans
Godolphin is one of the founding partners of the HRL, which aims to debut its inaugural season in February 2027 with ten teams. Other confirmed participants include WinStar, Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola, Hollywood executive Gary Barber, and several celebrities. The race meetings will be held at major US tracks: Santa Anita in California, Gulfstream in Florida, and Keeneland in Kentucky.
Prize Money and Competition Format
The points-based competition will feature ten runners in every race, with more than £7.4 million available in prize money. A live draft event is scheduled for November 2026, where each team will select eight horses to form their rosters.
Appealing to New and Existing Fans
Greg Maffei, CEO of BANN Ventures and Co-Founder of the HRL alongside Danny Epstein, said: “Formula 1 demonstrated what can happen when you bring fans to a historic sport in a modern way through storytelling and social media. Horse racing has all the thrilling elements: exciting competition, heritage, drama, glamour, and star power.” He added, “The HRL brings the excitement of teams to follow, dramatic rivalries, high-stakes betting, and a championship that builds race by race.”
Vinnie Viola commented: “Horse racing already commands one of the largest single-day audiences in American sports. Investing in a team-based concept designed to carry that momentum across a full season is what makes the HRL so exciting for us.”
