Godolphin closed out the 2025 North American racing season in a position that has become familiar: on top.

According to final year-end statistics released by Equibase, the global powerhouse set a new single-season earnings record as North America’s leading owner, doing so for the fifth straight year. Godolphin’s runners amassed $22,395,556 in earnings from U.S. and Canadian racing alone, eclipsing the $20.2 million mark they set a year earlier. When earnings from the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup cards are included, that figure climbed to $23,355,556.

The banner year was built around quality and depth. Godolphin campaigned 13 graded stakes winners in North America, headed by Sovereignty, the dual classic winner who emerged as the continent’s leading earner. Trained by Brad Cox, Sovereignty captured the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), added victories in the Travers Stakes (G1) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), and earned $5,692,020 from six starts, finishing outside the winner’s circle just once.

While Sovereignty topped the North American earnings list, Forever Young edged him on a global scale. The Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner became the overall leading earner when results from the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup were factored in, thanks to a Saudi Cup victory and a third-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show ranked second under the same expanded criteria.

Behind Sovereignty, the season’s top 10 North American earners reflected a year dominated by elite performers. Journalism earned $4.19 million, followed by Forever Young on $3.64 million and Ethical Diamond with $2.6 million. Sierra Leone ($2,188,200), Shisospicy ($2,044,645), Fionn ($1,968,970), Fierceness ($1,928,970), White Abarrio ($1,910,070), and Nitrogen ($1,909,400) completed the list.

Several of those standouts also topped their respective foal crops. Ted Noffey led the 2023 foals, Sovereignty the 2022 crop, Sierra Leone the 2021 group, National Treasure the 2020 foals, and White Abarrio headed the 2019 generation.

Godolphin’s dominance extended beyond the horses themselves. The operation recorded 104 wins from 448 North American starts in 2025 and finished comfortably clear of its rivals on the owners’ table. Klaravich Stables ranked second with $6,786,768, followed by Juddmonte ($6,041,145), Calumet Farm ($5,163,792), D. J. Stable ($5,123,422), and Spendthrift Farm ($5,051,885). Winchell Thoroughbreds, Repole Stable, Flying P Stable, and Bruno Schickedanz rounded out the top 10.

On the jockey front, the season produced one of the closest earnings battles in recent memory. Irad Ortiz Jr. and Flavien Prat both broke the $40 million barrier, becoming the first riders to do so in a single North American season. Ortiz ultimately prevailed by the slimmest of margins, finishing with $40,497,847—less than $2,000 clear of Prat’s $40,496,178. Ortiz rode 351 winners from 1,631 mounts, while Prat posted 310 wins from 1,256 starts.

They were followed by Jose Ortiz ($33,994,860), Luis Saez ($27,473,226), John Velazquez ($21,284,926), Tyler Gaffalione ($20,503,817), Manuel Franco ($19,544,623), Junior Alvarado ($18,318,159), Kendrick Carmouche ($14,619,426), and Joel Rosario ($14,528,953).

Brad Cox capped the year as North America’s leading trainer by earnings, reclaiming the title for the first time since 2023 and the third time overall. Cox’s runners earned $30,255,435 from 277 wins, achieved from 394 starters and 1,068 starts. Steve Asmussen ranked second on $24,939,805, narrowly ahead of Chad Brown ($24,487,934), with Mark Casse ($23,216,251) and Todd Pletcher ($19,187,793) also among the top five. William Mott, Saffie Joseph Jr., Mike Maker, Brendan Walsh, and Bob Baffert completed the leading trainers list.

Equibase’s annual year-end compilations cover all North American Thoroughbred racing from January 1 through December 31, 2025. Expanded leaderboards—spanning owners, trainers, jockeys, and horses, with filters for age, surface, graded races, and designated international events—are available through Equibase’s statistical database.

Image Breeders' Cup/Eclipse Sportswire