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| Staff Writer |
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Dubai is about to experience a historic moment in its racing scene. The prestigious Meydan Racecourse, host of the renowned Dubai World Cup, is set to embark on a groundbreaking season. Breaking from tradition, this Friday marks the beginning of a campaign where there will no longer be a distinction between the domestic and international halves of the racing program.
Dubai Racing Club (DRC) has introduced a new season-long racing event, the Dubai Racing Carnival, which will see local powerhouses compete with the world's best from the very beginning. This new event replaces the long-standing Dubai World Cup Carnival and is part of the DRC's efforts to keep Dubai at the forefront of fast-paced development and innovation in line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision.
The Dubai Racing Carnival will feature 15 meetings at Meydan, with 13 taking place on Fridays and only two on Saturdays, including the prestigious Super Saturday and the showpiece event on 30th March. The season also includes two other feature nights of racing: Festive Friday and Fashion Friday. Major General Dr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, the Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club, confirmed in a virtual press conference that horses from around the world are welcome to race in Dubai throughout the season.
'Something for everyone' “Meydan Racecourse is an iconic venue, and we are keen to make it a one-stop destination for entertainment, both sporting and social. We also have a range of top-class restaurants, plus casual dining, so there is something to suit every taste,” said Dr Al Adhab.
The prize money for the upcoming Dubai World Cup has received a significant increase, attracting the finest horses, owners, trainers, and jockeys. Even maiden races will have a minimum purse of AED165,000, while Listed events will now offer AED500,000. Group contests will have even more substantial rewards due to hefty increments. In comparison to the previous campaign, the new prize money represents an 11% increase. Despite this, the overall purse for the 2024 Dubai World Cup meeting has been kept at US$30.5 million.
The new structure will allow connections worldwide to plan better and under the new system, owners and trainers can register their horses as either permanent or temporary imports and avail of facilities in the city with racing permissions set for each of the two categories.
Speaking of the changes, Dr. Al Adhab added, “Dubai was first in the region to draw racing’s spotlight onto itself and we have been trailblazers when it comes to putting down a blueprint for the sport thanks to our incredible leadership that has over the years wholeheartedly supported racing and the ‘Sport of Kings’.
“Dubai Racing Club believes in developing and evolving according to the ever-changing ecosystems in which it operates and today we are putting in place tools that will pump more energy and revitalise the system.
“We have not cancelled the Carnival but have redeveloped it according to the growing needs of the region and all the changes that are taking place here. We want our guests to come and enjoy the magnificence of racing in the region and for that we have the full support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.”
Those who win any of the nine qualifying races set to take place at Meydan Racecourse between January 26 and March 2, 2024, will receive automatic entry to the corresponding race on Dubai World Cup night on March 30.
In addition, winners of both the qualifying race and the main event will get a chance to earn a 10 per cent bonus. The Dubai Racing Club has allocated more than US$4 million in additional prize money for the bonus scheme, which is expected to attract trainers and owners to prepare their horses in the city for the Dubai World Cup. This is the first bonus scheme of its kind in the region.
“We are excited about launching the Dubai World Cup Bonus series,” Dr Al Adhab added.
“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.”