Dubai: The Meydan Board of Directors announced on Wednesday that the Tapeta all-weather surface at Dubai’s iconic racecourse will be replaced with a dirt track that will be ready for the 2013-2014 UAE racing season.
Saeed Al Tayer, Chairman and CEO of the Meydan Group, said in an official statement posted on the Emirates Racing Authority website: “This is a decision that will be best for the future of Meydan racing and the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
“In the coming year we will celebrate the 20th running of the Dubai World Cup and the track will be the natural surface that proved so successful during the first 14 years of this magnificent race day.”
The inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup, now a Group 1 race worth $10million, was held at the old Nad Al Sheba racecourse in 1996. It was won by the legendary American horse Cigar.
However, the all-weather surface at Meydan has earned both bouquets and brickbats since it began staging the Dubai World Cup in 2010.
While some have described it as a ‘horse friendly’ surface, others have criticised it, claiming that it is ‘inconsistent’.
Work has commenced at the racecourse, which is located in the Nad Al Sheba area.
The 2014-2015 UAE season starts in October.
