Godolphin secures Billy Loughnane as retained jockey following historic season

Global racing giant Godolphin has announced the appointment of newly crowned Champion Jockey Billy Loughnane as a retained rider. The sensational young jockey will officially begin his role in the iconic royal blue silks starting at the Dubai Carnival in December 2026.

The announcement comes off the back of a meteoric rise for the young phenom, who solidified his position at the very top of world racing throughout a historic 2026 campaign.

Quotes from Godolphin’s Hugh Anderson

Welcoming the marquee signing, Hugh Anderson, Managing Director for Godolphin UK and Dubai, expressed great enthusiasm for Loughnane’s future with the team:

“Godolphin is delighted to have signed the most exciting young jockey riding in Europe. Billy Loughnane is an outstanding rider with a great future in our sport. We are thrilled that he has chosen our silks at this early stage in his career and he will formally start with us at the Dubai Carnival in December 2026.

“William Buick has ridden for us with distinction for over 10 years and we are very happy that he will continue as one of our two retained jockeys.”

Responding to the landmark deal, Loughnane added:

“I am absolutely ecstatic that Godolphin has given me this opportunity. It is a huge honour to become a retained jockey for one of the best racing operations in the world. I want to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for giving me the opportunity to ride his outstanding horses at the highest possible competitive level.”

Will William Buick Remain with Godolphin?

Yes, William Buick will remain with Godolphin.

Godolphin confirmed that Buick, who has served as first-choice jockey with immense success for more than a decade, will share retained rider duties alongside Loughnane.

This dual-retained setup mirrors Godolphin’s classic strategy of having two top-tier riders under contract to cover global commitments.

Likely to be similar to when James Doyle and William Buick shared retained duties for the operation in past seasons.

But it’s not known if Buick will retain the ‘number one’ status rider with Godolphin, now Billy Loughnane has been signed up too.

Reflecting on Billy Loughnane’s Season

The 2026 season will go down in flat racing folklore as the year Loughnane truly arrived on the global stage.

2000 Guineas Win on Bow Echo: Loughnane claimed his classic breakthrough in May with a commanding victory in the 2000 Guineas aboard Bow Echo.

The partnership went on to dominate the summer, adding further Group 1 glory in both the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Breeders’ Cup Success: Expanding his international footprint, Loughnane picked up high-profile international titles, including standout victories at the Breeders’ Cup meeting.

Such as the Juvenile Turf Sprint with Libertango at Keeneland on Friday 30th October.

Champion Jockey Title: At the conclusion of the British flat racing season in October, Loughnane was crowned the 2026 British Flat Champion Jockey.

In doing so, he became the youngest rider to win the British Flat Jockeys’ Championship in 102 years (since 1924).

Billy Loughnane Profile

• Age 20 (Born March 2006)
• 2026 Winner Count Champion Jockey titleholder
• Career Highlights 2000 Guineas (Bow Echo), St James’s Palace Stakes (Bow Echo), Sussex Stakes (Bow Echo), July Cup (Comanche Brave), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
• Career Earnings Multi-million-pound purse earner across major international Group 1 contests

Billy Loughnane broke his maiden on November 28, 2022, guiding 28/1 outsider Swiss Rowe to victory in a Wolverhampton handicap.

The breakthrough win came on his 27th ride, just five weeks after making his racecourse debut in October.

How to Pronounce Billy Loughnane’s Surname

While racing fans and commentators have spent the last few seasons debating the pronunciation of his surname, Loughnane recently clarified the record himself.

The 20-year-old champion clarified that his surname is pronounced ‘luck-nan’, putting an end to lingering confusion across broadcasting booths worldwide.