Godolphin, the ownership group that lobbied for Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) winners Necessary quality along with 14 other North American classified equity winners in 2021, has set a record one season as a lead owner in earnings, according to the final tally released on 3rd. January by Equibase Company, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database of racing information. Brad Cox, who has trained in Essential Quality, has set a one-season record as the highest earner for coaches. This is the first title of owner and top trainer, for Godolphin and Cox, respectively. Joel Rosario is the top-earning jockey, a first for him, after finishing second last year.
Longines Breeders ‘Cup Classic (G1) Winner of Korea Racing Authority Knicks Go , another Cox intern who has won 5 of his 6 North American races, leads all Purebreds in North American earnings with $5,824,140. In addition to the Classic win, the Knicks Go also won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Whitney Stakes (G1) and two other classified bets. He also finished 4th in the Saudi Arabia Cup.
Knicks Go, with Joel Rosario, Wins Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2021 in Del Mar
Completing the list of the top 10 horses by North American earnings is the Medina Spirit with $3,520,000; Quality needed for $3,420,000; Yibir with $2,615,000; Hot Rod Charlie with $2,127,500; Letruska for $1,945,540; Silver status with $1,693,000; Malathaat with $1,563,000; Mandaloun with $ 1,560,000; and Maxfield for $1,512,550.
Some of the leading horses are also the ones who make the most money from crops for their respective ponies. The top earners by year increase over the past five years are Echo Zulu (via Gunman , Case 2019); Necessary quality (by Tapit , Year 2018); Real (via Into Mischief , 2017); Knicks Go (by Payer , 2016); and Vino Rosso (via Curlin , 2015).
Godolphin, with 84 North American wins from 479 starts, is a dominant force among owners in 2021 with record earnings of $17,403,204, breaking the single-season earnings record. old is $12.2 million set in 2013 by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. When factoring in earnings from Emirates Airline-sponsored Dubai World Cup (G1) and World Cup dates, Godolphin had 88 wins and $29,398,204, those earnings mostly coming from home. won the Dubai World Cup Mysterious Guide and the UAE Derby sponsored by winners Emirates NBD (G2) Rebel’s Romance .
Completing the list of the top 10 owners by North American earnings in 2021 is Klaravich Stables, $7,016,654 (72 wins / 294 starts); Juddmonte, $5,899,094 (38/134); Korea Racing Authority, $5,824,140 (June 5); Calumet Farm, $5,415,390 (63/528); Athletics Last Zone, $5,076,698 (266 / 1,248); Three Diamonds Farm, $5,044,008 (52/318); Peter Brant, $4,417,444 (31/124); Stonestreet Stables, $4,378,427 (36/127); and Gary Barber, $4,333,024 (91/482).
Cox took the winners of 269 races from 358 starters with 1,025 starts to set a single-season earnings record of $31,832,345 in 2021, beating the previous record of 31. $1.1 million set in 2019 by Chad Brown. When including earnings from World Cup days in Dubai and the Saudi Cup, Cox’s total earnings for the year were $33,322,345. Steve Asmussen, last year’s top earner, came in second with his horse winning 453 races from 640 starters with 2,427 starts with earnings of $31,268,944.
Completing the list of the top 10 coaches by North American earnings in 2021 is Brown, $22,213,740 (196 wins / 316 starters / 839 starts); Todd Pletcher, $22,098,436 (204/306/915); Mike Maker, $14,938,517 (214/419/1,340); Mark Casse, $14,881,212 (225/363/347); Bob Baffert, $14,646,762 (108/117/341); Bill Mott, $12,410,845 (108/194/616); Christophe Clement, $10,069,223 (116/189/564); and Saffie Joseph Jr., $9,027,406 (201/279/875).
Rosario entered the winner’s circle 228 times from 1,083 mounts in 2021 and earned $32,944,478. With earnings from Dubai World Cup and Saudi Cup dates included, Rosario earned $35,421,978. In second place is Irad Ortiz Jr., the top equestrian player of the past two years, with 336 wins from 1,443 mounts and a net worth of $29,274,435.
Rounding out the list of the top 10 jockeys by North American earnings for 2021 is Luis Saez, $26,187,754 (293 wins / 1,635 starts); Jose Ortiz, $25,000,069 (256 / 1,372); Flavien Prat, $23,098,013 (245/921); Tyler Gaffalione, $19,232,182 (2,691/423); Florent Geroux, $19,021,642 (185/898); John Velazquez, $17,738,203 (119/695); Ricardo Santana Jr., $16,976,612 (164/990); and Manuel Franco, $14,043,066 (184/1,341).
Year-end aggregates are distributed annually by Equibase and include results from North American Thoroughbred racing January 1 through December 31. List of North American racing leaders Expanded to include all trainers, jockeys, owners and horses available in the stats section at Equibase.com. These lists include the ability to look at leaders in a variety of categories, including age, gender, surface finish, graded races, horse training year, and include water races designated outsiders, such as the Saudi Arabia and Dubai World Cup races.
