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| Staff Writer |
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Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) is ushering in a transformative 2024-25 season, launching night racing for the first time in its history as part of an expanded 30-fixture calendar beginning this Friday.
The installation of state-of-the-art floodlighting marks a watershed moment for Bahraini racing, with REHC CEO Yusuf Osama Buheji heralding the development as "an exceptional experience" set to attract increased international participation.
The season's highlights include the His Majesty the King's Cup Festival (March 6-7) and the Crown Prince's Cup Festival (January 30-31). The Gr.2 Bahrain International Trophy, now worth US$1 million, returns on November 15 with a maximum field of 14 over 2,000m. Last year's winner Dubai Future, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, went on to land the Gr.2 Dubai City of Gold at Meydan.
Previous victors include Certain Lad (2020), who captured the Gr.3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes, and Lord Glitters (2021), successful in the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta.
The Bahrain Turf Series enters its fourth season with an enriched prize pool exceeding US$1 million, including US$80,000 in bonus money. The series expands to 12 races, up from 10 last term, running from December through March 2025.
A groundbreaking Future Stars Championship debuts, featuring six races across three fixtures in March and April 2025. The series, exclusively for locally-bred horses, aims to bolster Bahraini breeding programmes.
"This season will see a major shift in Bahraini horseracing," Buheji said. "The completion of our lighting project, executed to the latest international standards, enables us to organise night races for the first time ever."
The opening meeting honours the late Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa's contributions to REHC, with the season running through to April 18, 2025. These developments align with directives from REHC High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, reinforcing Bahrain's growing status as a global racing destination.
Buheji expressed gratitude to REHC's partners and sponsors, emphasising their vital role in elevating the kingdom's racing profile. The expanded programme has already attracted entries from seven countries for the International Trophy, highlighting Bahrain's increasing appeal to foreign connections.