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| Staff Writer |
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Great news for horse racing enthusiasts! The Dubai World Cup has just announced an amazing Bonus Scheme that includes qualifying races and over US$4 million in extra prizemoney to be won.
In the months between January and March 2024, Meydan Racecourse will host nine races whose winners will automatically qualify for the corresponding race on Dubai World Cup night, March 30th, with a chance of receiving a 10 percent bonus if they win both races. This new bonus scheme is the first of its kind in the region and is designed to encourage trainers and owners to prepare their horses in Dubai for the Dubai World Cup, which has already proven successful in the past.
Thunder Snow, the only dual winner of the race in 2018 and 2019, is the most recent DWC winner to have prepared by competing at Meydan. This season, two races, the Gr.1 Maktoum Challenge on January 26th and the Gr.2 Maktoum Classic on March 2nd, both qualifying races for the Group One A$12 million Dubai World Cup, offer an additional A$1.2 million in prize money.
“We are exciting about launching the Dubai World Cup Bonus Series,” commented Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club. “History has shown, through the likes of Dubai Millennium, Curlin and California Chrome, among others, that racing in Dubai prior to the Dubai World Cup can be an advantage, so we would like to further encourage trainers to do this by offering an added 10 per cent to the purse if horses win both races.”
Starting on January 26th, the Dubai World Cup bonus scheme will begin, introducing new incentives for three races. Each horse can only receive one bonus per season, and standard race entry fees will still apply.
The list of races included in the bonus scheme are as follows:
The Gr.1 Jebel Hatta on January 26th, which offers a winner bonus to the Gr.1 Dubai Turf for US $500,000.
The Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge on January 26th, which offers a winner bonus to the G1 Dubai World Cup for US $1,200,000.
The Gr.3 UAE 2000 Guineas on January 26th, which offers a winner bonus to the G2 UAE Derby for US $100,000.
Additional bonus opportunities will be available for winners of the Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy on February 23rd.
The Gr.3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint and Gr.3 Mahab Al Shimaal on March 2nd, and the Gr.3 Burj Nahaar, G2 Dubai City of Gold, and G2 Al Maktoum Classic, all of which will offer winner bonuses ranging from US $100,000 to US $1,200,000.