Godolphin Signs Billy Loughnane as Retained Jockey
The Dubai-based racing operation has added Loughnane, who won his first jockey championship this year, to its roster of retained riders.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Equestrian
Godolphin has announced Billy Loughnane as a new retained jockey, with William Buick continuing as one of the stable's two retained riders. Loughnane will formally start with Godolphin at the Dubai Carnival in December 2026.
Why it matters
The signing adds a rider with a strong recent record, including his first jockey championship, the 2,000 Guineas on Bow Echo and a Breeders' Cup win last week. It also places a rising Group 1-winning jockey in one of international racing's most prominent stables.
Loughnane's first Group 1 win came on Rebel's Romance last year, and this year he claimed his first jockey championship and the 2,000 Guineas on Bow Echo. The terms of his retainer and his full Godolphin riding schedule were not disclosed.
The players
Billy Loughnane
A jockey who won his first jockey championship this year and has become one of Europe's leading young riders.
Godolphin
A Dubai-based global thoroughbred racing and breeding operation known for its royal blue silks and its roster of top retained jockeys.
William Buick
A veteran British jockey who has ridden for Godolphin for over a decade and remains one of its two retained riders.
The details
Godolphin formally signed Billy Loughnane as a retained rider, and he will ride in the operation's royal blue silks. William Buick, who has ridden for Godolphin for over ten years, will remain one of the stable's two retained jockeys.
Timeline
Last year: Loughnane gains his first Group 1 success on Rebel's Romance.
This year: Loughnane wins his first jockey championship and the 2,000 Guineas on Bow Echo.
Last week: Loughnane wins the Breeders' Cup.
December 2026: Loughnane formally starts with Godolphin at the Dubai Carnival.
Roadmap
Retained-jockey arrangements, in which a top stable secures a rider's services on a long-term basis, are a core feature of elite Flat racing, and Godolphin has long relied on the model. Loughnane's move places a rising rider inside one of the sport's most established retained-rider structures.
For racing followers, the signing means Loughnane's rides will increasingly come in Godolphin's royal blue silks, which may shape which races and horses fans watch closely. Fantasy and betting interest in Godolphin's jockey line-up may shift as the Dubai Carnival approaches.
The takeaway
Loughnane's rapid rise, from first Group 1 success to a championship and a Breeders' Cup win in one year, makes him a rider worth watching as he joins Godolphin's roster.
What happens next
Loughnane formally starts with Godolphin at the Dubai Carnival in December 2026.
Further reading
For more on the sport, explore Equestrian coverage on Wisevoter.
