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| Sumita Pawar |
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Leopardstown Racecourse and the Bahrain Turf Club have formed a new agreement, resulting in the introduction of the 'Dublin to Bahrain' race series. This initiative allows the winners of these races to automatically qualify for the 2023-24 Bahrain Turf Series. The inaugural race of the 'Dublin to Bahrain' series will be held at Leopardstown on Thursday, July 20th.
From Dublin To Bahrain: Racing Expansion
Bahrain's sponsorship portfolio in Ireland has been expanded with the addition of the 'Dublin to Bahrain' race series, which complements their existing sponsorship of the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes Gr.1 and the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes (Gr. 3), both held at Leopardstown.
In addition to the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes Gr.1 and the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes (Gr. 3) held at Leopardstown, Bahrain has expanded its sponsorship portfolio in Ireland by adding five races. These races include four handicaps, such as the €40,000 October Handicap, and the Listed Knockaire Stakes. Winners of the four handicap races will automatically qualify for the Bahrain Turf Series, a ten-race series held during Bahrain's domestic season. Each race in the Bahrain Turf Series was valued at £60,000 (€70,000) last season, with the value expected to increase in 2023-24.
Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al Khalifa, Bahrain Turf Club High Committee Representative, International Racing, said, “We are delighted to expand our involvement with Irish racing. The ‘Dublin to Bahrain’ race series is a great initiative that we have developed with our partners at Leopardstown.
"The aim is to increase awareness among Irish owners and trainers of our own Bahrain Turf Series, a valuable ten-race series that runs from December to February and caters for both sprint and middle-distance horses.
“In addition, as well as sponsoring the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, our support for two other pattern races provides further opportunities to promote the Bahrain International Trophy, the Kingdom’s most valuable race.”
Tim Husbands, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “The Dublin to Bahrain Series is a really exciting initiative that we are delighted to stage at Leopardstown. We hope that trainers and owners from all over Ireland will target these races and we will look forward to following the winners’ progress in the Bahrain Turf Series and Bahrain International Trophy later in the year.”