Dubai: Having established itself as the undisputed headquarters of flat racing in the Middle East, Meydan Racecourse on Thursday launched its new season with clinical precision and a minimal demonstration of hauteur.
Thousands of diehard racing fans were joined by several hundred first-timers to usher in the first of 20 meetings that the iconic venue will host between now and March 25, the day when the season culminates with the Dubai World Cup meeting.
Meydan has set the highest of standards for the sport ever since its launch in 2010 and the venue continues to move away from everyday sport into something more exclusive.
Thursday’s seven-race card was richly sponsored by Emirates Airline, Meydan’s pillar partner, with a total prize purse of Dh1.5 million on offer on the evening.
This was the first race meeting since US superstar, California Chrome, galloped to victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (Group 1) on March 26, six months ago.
The world’s richest race brought the curtain down on the spectacular Dubai World Cup Carnival, a ten-race extravaganza that will see a purse boost of $100,000 for the 2017 edition.
In another significant change this season, the Group 1 $1 million Al Quoz Sprint has been extended to 1,200 metres from 1,000 metres, creating dual turf and dirt sprint contests of the highest calibre. The newly implemented 1,200-metre turf division will feature five key Carnival handicaps, including the new $200,000 Nad Al Sheba Sprint on Thursday, February 16.
There is so much to look forward to at Meydan Racecourse this season as Malih Lahej Al Basti, Vice-Chairman, Meydan Group, said earlier: “The Dubai World Cup Carnival and Dubai World Cup are tried and tested in the racing world and continue to attract the best. Yet we do not rest on our laurels and always seek ways to further enhance our offering. We focused on specific areas of the Carnival programme this year, namely the sprint and stayers’ divisions and we hope this will appeal to trainers and owners.
“As an added incentive we have also increased prize money across the whole Dubai World Cup Carnival programme and we look forward to the fabulous spectacle of the planet’s best horses competing for some of the highest prize money in the business on Meydan’s world stage.”
The Dubai World Cup Carnival, which gets under way on Thursday January 5, 2017 and features 10 meetings prior to Dubai World Cup day, has received a prize money boost for the 2017 season.
There is now a total purse of $10.925 million across 61 Thoroughbred and four Group Purebred Arabian races held outside Dubai World Cup day. The minimum purse offered for a Carnival race now rises to $100,000 following the $467,500 increase over the ten meetings up to and including Super Saturday.
