The Godolphin Arainan 1724-1753, was an Arabian horse who was one of the three stallions that were the founders of the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Bloodstock. The other two Arabs were the Darley Arabian and the Byerley Turk. The Godolphin however, was given his name for his best-known owner, Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin.

The Godolphin Arabian was foaled in about 1724 in Yemen. He moved several times before coming into England. He was believed to be a present passed down from monarch to monarch. The Godolphin Arabian was seen being used as a carthorse in the streets of France. Edward Coke was then his new owner as being a carthorse, was being tormented by the cartman. Coke later died in 1733.He was bequeathed to Roger Williams, "proprietor of the St. James's Coffee House", who inherited Coke's stallions. He was bought by the 2nd Earl of Godolphin,[3] and placed at his stud at Babraham, Cambridgeshire until his death on Christmas Day 1753.

   For a long time, it was argued if the Godolphin Arabian was an Arabian or a Barb.However, portraits, showing a horse with a high-carried tail and dished profile, features that differentiate Arabians from Barbs, lead modern experts to believe he was more likely an Arabian.

   The Godolphin Arabian was originally used as a teaser, until he meet Lady Roxana. This mare was supposed to be bred with another stallion known as Hobgoblin. She rejected her mate, so the Godolphin Arabian covered for her. The result of this mating was the Godolphin Arabian's son, Lath. He was the first of the Godolphin Arabian's offspring. He  went on to win the Queen's Plate nine times out of nine at the Newmarket races. The second colt from the pair was Cade. The third colt was Regulus. All three were the same gold-touched bay as their sire, with the same small build and high crested conformation. All were very fast on the track, and also sired many foals. This was the start of the Godolphin Arabian's prowess as a racing stud, and he spent the rest of his days as the Earl of Godolphin's prize stallion, bred to England's finest mares.The major Thoroughbred sire Eclipse traces in his sire line to the Darley Arabian, but his dam was a daughter of Regulus and thus also traces to the Godolphin Arabian. This pattern continues to be seen today in many horses, with the Godolphin Arabian more heavily represented in dam lines and in the "middle" of pedigrees as opposed to direct sire lines. The first connection began with a filly in the United States, Selima. She was born out of Shireborn. She won the biggest prize of the era, 2,500 pistoles at Gloucester, Virginia which marked "the beginning of the remarkable racing contests between the rival colonies of Maryland and Virginia. She later became a successful broodmare in Maryland.

Among the many famous horses he sired were Lath, Cade (full brother to Lath), Blank and Regulus.[13] The Godolphin Arabian was Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1738, 1745 and 1747.

   Later, the Godolphin Arabian died in Hog-Magog, Cambridgeshire in 1753 at the age of 29. The horse's grave is in the stable block of the Wandlebury House.Although today the majority of Thoroughbred horses’ sire lines trace to the Darley Arabian, many famous American horses of the past trace their sire line back to the Godolphin Arabian. These include Seabiscuit, Man o' War, War Admiral, and Silky Sullivan. Today, dual Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow represents his line.