2020 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe.

Racing went on a hiatus in many countries, with the Dubai World Cup cancelled, together with many other major events around the world.

As competition restarted, albeit behind closed doors, Victor Ludorum became the second straight winner of the G1 French 2,000 Guineas. His victory was followed a few days later by Ghiayyath, who broke the track record when landing the relocated G1 Coronation Cup at Newmarket.

Ghaiyyath went on to record two further G1 victories in 2020: beating Enable in the Eclipse, before leading all the way to win the Juddmonte International. He was named the world's best racehorse of the year, was crowned Cartier Champion Older Horse and Cartier Horse Of The Year, and was also named the Longines World's Best Racehorse of 2020.

Meanwhile in the US, another star was born as Essential Quality rounded off an unbeaten juvenile season with a win in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, after which he was crowned Champion two-year-old.

2019 started with success in the southern hemisphere, as Kiamichi took the Golden Slipper, the world's richest two-year-old race. Then on to Dubai, where Thunder Snow became the first horse ever to win the Dubai World Cup twice. However, 2019 was undoubtedly Pinatubo's year!

From the moment he stepped onto the racecourse, the handsome son of Shamardal made his presence felt. A perfect juvenile campaign saw Pinatubo win six times from six starts, including a devastating nine-length victory in the G1 National Stakes which was rated the best two-year-old performance for 25 years. 

Pinatubo rounded off his year with a win in the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes and was duly crowned Champion two-year-old.

Another son of Shamardal, Blue Point, also ensured his name would appear in the record books as he became the first horse ever to win two G1 sprints at Royal Ascot in the same week.

Other notable winners were Persian King and Castle Lady, who annexed the French Guineas, plus dual G1 winner Earthlight and Japanese sprinting star, Tower Of London.

2018 was a banner year for Team Godolphin, with an unprecedented 30 G1 victories around the world. They included two of the most prestigious races on the planet, the Epsom Derby and the Melbourne Cup, won by Masar and Cross Counter respectively.

Team Godolphin also chalked up their 5,000th winner worldwide when Expecting To Fly won a Maiden in France on Thursday, 16 August, 2018.

Since 17 March, 2018, all horses previously racing in the JRA in the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed now race in the name of Godolphin. The racing silks carried in Japan are royal blue with a lighter blue band on the sleeve.  

Godolphin registers its 250th G1 win when Barney Roy breaks the track record to land the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Godolphin’s Fantasy Stable League launches as part of the new fan-based Club Godolphin.

Masar Godolphin welcomes its inaugural class of future industry leaders.

Building on the foundations laid over the past two years, January 2016 saw Sheikh Mohammed’s global racing and breeding empires merge into one seamless operation under Godolphin. Darley, under which all Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock holdings formerly operated, is now used solely as a brand to promote stallions.

Godolphin's eighth victory in the G1 Dubai World Cup was recorded in spectacular fashion by Prince Bishop. Godolphin then enjoyed 16 further G1 wins in five countries, including victories for Territories (France), Jack Hobbs (Ireland), Contributer, Hartnell and Exosphere (Australia), Night of Thunder and Pleascach (UK), and Frosted and Wedding Toast (USA).

The Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards are launched in Ireland and Australia, recognising and rewarding the hard work and dedication of stud and stable staff.

Godolphin announces its permanent presence in Australia, becoming the largest horse racing operation in the world with horses in training in Dubai, the UK, Australia, America, Ireland and France.

2012 concluded with 16 G1 victories, the best total since 2002, with 214 winners and prize money of US$25.8 million.

For the second time in five years, Godolphin is awarded the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner, formally recognising the success of the stable in North America.

In 2010 the Dubai World Cup was held for the first time at the newly developed Meydan Racecourse. The iconic grandstand is the longest in world sport at 1,536m, with a seating capacity for over 60,000 and adjoins 285 elegantly appointed rooms and suites of The Meydan Hotel.

In a truly international year, All The Good created history when winning the G1 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne - Godolphin's first success at the highest level in Australia.

Saeed bin Suroor is named Champion Trainer in the UK for the fourth time in 2004, a year in which Godolphin captured 11 G1 races.

Dubawi, a son of the great Dubai Millennium steps onto the racecourse and remains unbeaten all year. He goes on to confirm his sire’s legacy, becoming the first British-based stallion ever to sire 100 Group winners.

The scale of Godolphin's global success reached new heights in 2002. The stable embarked upon a campaign that would culminate in G1 triumphs in eight different countries: France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Singapore, UAE, UK and USA.

Sheikh Mohammed expands his bloodstock operation with the purchase of Jonabell Farm in Kentucky, USA and Kelvinside in New South Wales, Australia, before going on to establish a presence in Japan the following year.

The year 2000 ushered forward a horse that had been named for the moment. Godolphin's greatest horse, and Sheikh Mohammed's personal favourite, was the magnificent Dubai Millennium. An accomplished horseman, Sheikh Mohammed proved his outstanding ability when identifying Dubai Millennium as a future Champion. He won nine of his 10 starts including a stunning victory in the world's richest race, the Dubai World Cup, in 2000 – the race he was named him to win.

11 of the world's leading thoroughbreds compete for the inaugural Dubai World Cup, a contest created by Sheikh Mohammed which confirmed the development of racing in Dubai as one of the most significant events to take place on the international racing scene in the last 20 years. The prize is one of the richest purses in racing. American wonder horse Cigar is victorious and sets the standard for what will become a pinnacle of the racing calendar.

In May 1995, Godolphin enjoyed an unprecedented weekend of G1 wins around the globe with Flagbird (Italy), Heart Lake (Japan) and Vettori (France) all victorious at the highest level.

Balanchine wins the Oaks at Epsom Downs, UK, giving Godolphin a first Classic success.

Together with his three brothers, Sheikh Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Ahmed, Sheikh Mohammed defied convention and took the revolutionary step of moving some of his horses from the chilly English winter to the warmth of Dubai, echoing the migration of birds to a warmer climate for the winter months. The seeds from which Godolphin would emerge had been sown.

Sheikh Mohammed purchases Kildangan Stud in Ireland.

Sheikh Mohammed purchases Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, UK from the Philipps family, which at the time stood one stallion and employed fewer than 10 people.

Sheikh Mohammed's own involvement with international racing began with the filly Hatta, who gave him his first success at Brighton, UK on 20 June, 1977. She went on to land the G3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood the following month.

Sheikh Mohammed and his brother, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, watched their first horse race in the UK in May 1967, where they saw Royal Palace win the 2,000 Guineas - one of five British Classic races.

The Godolphin Arabian, also known as the Godolphin Barb, was an Arabian horse and was one of three stallions that founded the modern thoroughbred. He was named after his best-known owner, Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin. The horse would later give its name to Sheikh Mohammed's international horse racing stable.

The Darley Arabian was one of three foundation sires of the modern thoroughbred. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria, by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped back to Aldby Park in England as a present for his brother. The Darley Arabian stood at just 15 hands but was renowned for his striking appearance.

One of three foundation sires of the modern thoroughbred, the Byerley Turk is born. The stallion is believed to have been captured by Captain Robert Byerley at the Battle of Buda and served as Byerley's war horse when he was dispatched to Ireland in 1689 during King William's War. He saw further military service in the Battle of the Boyne.