Douglas Erskine Crum

Douglas’ Biography

Douglas Erskine Crum is Chief Executive of Juddmonte Group. Under the vision and direction of the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, over the last 40 years Juddmonte has become one of the world's leading thoroughbred racing and breeding operations. Now under the direction of his family, Juddmonte consistently produces top-class horses from its select stallions and 200 broodmares on stud farms in England, Ireland and the USA, and competes at the highest level on racecourses around the world. It has bred, and Prince Khalid owned, over 100 individual Group/Grade 1 winners of over 200 Group/Grade 1 races racing in his famous pink, green and white colours. Champions include Frankel, Arrogate, Dancing Brave and Enable.

Following a successful Army career, including as Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, and Commander 3rd Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland when he was awarded the CBE, Douglas was asked to apply for, and subsequently appointed to, the role of Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse. At that time, Ascot faced several challenges including being significantly unprofitable.... Douglas Erskine Crum is Chief Executive of Juddmonte Group. Under the vision and direction of the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, over the last 40 years Juddmonte has become one of the world's leading thoroughbred racing and breeding operations. Now under the direction of his family, Juddmonte consistently produces top-class horses from its select stallions and 200 broodmares on stud farms in England, Ireland and the USA, and competes at the highest level on racecourses around the world. It has bred, and Prince Khalid owned, over 100 individual Group/Grade 1 winners of over 200 Group/Grade 1 races racing in his famous pink, green and white colours. Champions include Frankel, Arrogate, Dancing Brave and Enable.

Following a successful Army career, including as Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, and Commander 3rd Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland when he was awarded the CBE, Douglas was asked to apply for, and subsequently appointed to, the role of Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse. At that time, Ascot faced several challenges including being significantly unprofitable. Together with the Board of Trustees chaired by the Duke of Devonshire, Douglas embarked on an ambitious strategy to transform the business, which enabled it to assemble the team to finance and execute the replacement of the outdated grandstand, track and additional facilities, and for Ascot to become the leading international horseracing brand for which it is now recognised.

Following Ascot, Douglas became Chief Executive of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, responsible for collecting and distributing £80m+ of annual levy from the betting industry to the racing industry. He was Trustee of the National Army Museum from 2013 to 2019, during which he chaired the ‘Building for the Future’ committee, delivering a £25m redevelopment of the Museum. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Douglas’ Newsfeed

Sackville Joins Juddmonte as Head of European Sales

Douglas’ Background

Juddmonte Group

Chief Executive

Apr 2013 - Present

Juddmonte is the international thoroughbred horseracing and breeding enterprise founded in 1980 by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah.

Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB)

Chief Executive Officer

Feb 2008 - Apr 2013

London, UK

The Horserace Betting Levy Board is a UK statutory body that was established by the Betting Levy Act 1961, operating in accordance with the provisions of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 (as amended). It is a non-departmental public body and its sponsoring Government department is the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is a key funding source for British horseracing.

ECF & Partners Ltd

Director

2006 - 2010

Moscow, RU

ECF & Partners Ltd is an organisation that conceptualises and executes leisure developments across the Gulf Region and Russia. As Director of ECF & Partners, Douglas worked alongside leading architects, cost consultants, engineers, project managers and business planners in order to successfully complete these developments.

Ascot Racecourse

Chief Executive Officer

1994 - 2006

Ascot, UK

Douglas was instrumental in making Ascot one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom. The racecourse was established around 300 years ago and hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Group 1 Horse races.

The British Army

Brigadier

1970 - 1994

The British Army is tasked with protecting the United Kingdom’s interests at home and abroad. Also known as Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, the military is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for all British citizens.

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Douglas’ Gallery

Frankie Dettori following his fith win at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the horse Enable.

Douglas Erskine Crum holding a trophy on behalf of Juddmonte.

Enable, a Juddmonte horse having won at Royal Ascot.

A portrait photograph of two horses owned by Juddmonte.

Media

Please click to view the Juddmonte Stallions Brochure.

Features

Bloodstock Big Read: Interview with Douglas Erskine Crum

Interview

May 2023

Douglas Erskine Crum discusses Juddmonte's commitment to ensuring continuity at the legendary breeding and racing institution following owner Khalid Abdullah’s death in 2021.

Awards & Recognition

Cartier

Cartier Racing Award | Horse of the Year

2019

London, UK

Juddmonte’s thoroughbred, Enable, was crowned Cartier Horse of the Year in 2019 at the 29th annual Cartier Racing Awards. Enable was also named Horse of the Year in 2017.

Charitable Interests

National Army Museum

Trustee & Chair of the Building for the Future Committee

London, UK

The National Army Museum is the British Army's museum located in Chelsea. The museum reopened in March 2017 following the re-development project led by the Building for the Future Committee.

Douglas’ Education

Eton College

1962 - 1967

Chief Executive

Juddmonte Group

London, UK

Douglas’ Biography

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