Douglas Erskine Crum

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Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026

Chief Executive Officer

London, GB

Profile Verified by The Marque

Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026

Contact Douglas Erskine Crum

In Their Own Right

Biography

Douglas Erskine Crum is Chief Executive Officer 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strategy to transform the business, which enabled it to assemble the team to finance and execute the replacement of the outdated grandstand, track and additional facilities, and for Ascot to become the leading international horseracing brand for which it is now recognised.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.

The Record

Background

2013 — Present
Chief Executive Officer

Juddmonte Group

Juddmonte is the international thoroughbred horseracing and breeding enterprise founded in 1980 by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah.
2008 — 2013
Chief Executive Officer

Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB)

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.
1994 — 2006
Chief Executive Officer

Ascot Racecourse

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.
1970 — 1994
Brigadier

The British Army

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.
2006 — 2010
Director

ECF & Partners Ltd

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.

In The News

Newsfeed

24 March 2026 · BHA
High Value Developmental Races continue to support British racing and breeding
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7 July 2025 · BloodHorse Magazine
Sackville Joins Juddmonte as Head of European Sales
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9 June 2025 · Racing TV
Juddmonte confirm Colin Keane to take retained rider role
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21 January 2025 · Sky Sports
City Of Troy and Laurel River share Longines World's Best Racehorse award
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28 October 2024 · Thoroughbred Daily News
Arc Winner Bluestocking Retired To The Paddocks â€“ Kalpana Stays In Training
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15 February 2024 · Tattersalls
Boost for British racing and breeding as BHA confirms extension of High Value Developmental Races
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14 October 2023 · Racing Post
Frankel is the People's Champion - legend is voted your favourite ever racehorse
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4 October 2023 · Financial Times
At home with Frankel, the racehorse turned super-stud
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21 August 2023 · Racing Post
'He was an owner-breeder like no other' - Juddmonte's owner Prince Khalid inducted into Hall of Fame
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11 May 2023 · Thoroughbred Daily News
Darley Backs Irish Fillies to Enhance UK Developmental Series Pledge with Juddmonte
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8 February 2023
Juddmonte and Darley to co-sponsor new high-value development races
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19 January 2023
Juddmonte to Continue Sponsorship of Irish Oaks
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23 July 2022 · Racing Post
Dancing Brave's iconic Arc success is voted your greatest ever horserace
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30 April 2022 · Arab News
Saudi-owned Dancing Brave, legendary jockey Frankie Dettori inducted into racing hall of fame
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