Dubai With more prize money than ever before on offer, the 2018 British flat racing season, which officially kicks off with the Guineas meeting in the first week of May, looks set for one of its best years.

At the end of 2017 the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the regulatory authority for horse racing in Great Britain, confirmed that the total funding would surpass an all-time high of £160 million (Dh826 million).

In addition, Royal Ascot the highlight of the season and the pillar of British racing, which runs from June 19-23 this year, will be worth more than £7 million more in riches.

Beside the embarrassment of riches in terms of prize money, there is a lot to look forward to over the next six months as most of the country’s 63 racecourses get set to go into action.

Whichever way you look at it, whether your fancy is the Epsom Derby in June or Glorious Goodwood in August, aficionados will not be hard-pressed to find something appealing given the depth and quality of the annual programme.

Take a look at our guide to the season. In each month you will find the major races and Festivals. Also included under each race is the history of winning horses that were owned by Shaikhs or owners based in the UAE.

 2018 British Flat racing season 

MAY

May 2
Ascot Racecourse
■ LONGINES SAGARO STAKES (G3) 1m
■ PAVILION STAKES (G3) 

Guineas Festival May 5-6
■ Newmarket Racecourse

Saturday May 5
■ PALACE HOUSE STAKES  (G3) 5f
■ JOCKEY CLUB STAKES (G2) 1m

Notable UAE-owned winners
■ Unfuwain (1989), Marienbard (2002), Alkaased (2005)
■ 2000 GUINEAS (G1) 1m
Nashwan (1989), Pennekamp (1995), Mark of Esteem (1996), Haafhd (2004), Dawn Approach (2013), Night of Thunder (2014)

Nashwan was an impressive winner of the 2,000 Grouineas in 1999. Agencies

Sunday, May 6
■ DAHLIA STAKES  (G2) 1m 1f
■ 1000 GUINEAS (G1) 1m
■ Oh So Sharp (1985), Salsabil (1990), Sayyedati (1993), Harayir (1995), Cape Verdi (1998), Kazzia (2002), Blue Bunting (2011).

May 11
■ Chester
■ HUXLEY STAKES (G2) 1m 

Dante Festival 16-18 -York
Wednesday, May 16
■ Musidora Stakes (G3) 1m 2f
■ Bahr (1998),  Zahrat Dubai (1999), Punctilious (2004)

Thursday, May 17
■ Dante Stakes (G2) 1m 2f
■ Alnasr Alwasheek (1992), Erhaab (1994), Classic Cliche (1995), Sakhee (2000), North Light (2004), Permian (2017).

Friday May 18
■ Yorkshire Cup  (G1) 1m 6f 

Newbury May 19
■ Lockinge Stakes (G1) 1m
■ Emperor Jones (1994), Soviet Line (1995-96) Cape Cross (1998), Fly to the Stars (1999), Aljabr (2000), Creachadoir (2008), Farhh (2013), Night of Thunder (2015), Belardo (2016), Ribchester (2017)

JUNE

Derby Festival June 1-2
■ Epsom Downs

Friday June 1
■ Coronation Cup (G1)
■ 1993 Opera House (1993), sWAIN (1996), sINGSPIEL (1997), dAYLAMI (1999), Mutafaweq (2001), Sarrsan (2003),

■ Epsom Oaks (G1) 1, 4f
■ Oh So Sharp (1985). Unite (1987), Snow Bride (1989), Salsabil (1990), Jet Ski Lady (1991), Intrepredity (1993), Balanchine (1994), Moonshell (1995), Kazzia (2002), Eswarah (2005), Taghrooda (2014).

Saturday, June 2
■ Epsom Derby (G1) 1m 4f
■ Nashwan (1989), Erbaab (1994), Lammtarra (1995), Shaamt (1996), High-Rise (1998), Kris Kin (2003), New Approach (2008)

Royal Ascot June 19-23
Day 1 - Tuesday, June 19
■ Queen Anne Stakes (G1) 1m
■ Lahib (1992), Barathea (1994), Charnwood Forest (1996), Allied Forces (1997), Intikhab (1998), Cape Cross (1999), No Excuse Neede (2002), Dubai Destination (2003), Refuse to Bend (2004), Ramonti (2007), Ribchester (2017)
■ King’s Stand Stakes (G1) 6f
■ Dayjur (1990), Prohibit (2011)
■ St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) 7f
■ 1985 Bairn (1985), Shaadi (1989), Marju (1991), Bahri (1995),  Starnorough (1997), Zafeen (2003), Shamardal (2005), Dawn Approach (2013), Barney roy (2017). 

Day 2 - Wednesday, June 20
■ Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) 10f
■ 1987 Mtoto (1988), Stagecraft (1991), Muhtarram (1994-95), Faithful Son (1998), Dubai Millennium (2000), Fantastic Light (2001), Grandera (2002), Nayef (2003), Rewilding (2011)
■ Gold Cup (G1) 2m 3f
■ Sadeem (1998), Ashal (1990), Classic Cliche (1996), Kayf Tara (1998-2000), Papineau (2004), Colour Vision (2012)

Day 3 - Thursday, June 21
■ Coronation Stakes 7f
■ Sonic Lady (1986), Golden Opinion (1989), Kissing Cousin (1994)

Day 4 - Friday, June 22
■ Commonwealth Cup (G1) 6f
■ Muhaarar (2015)
■ Coronation Stakes (G1) 1m
■ Al Bahathri (1985), Sonic Lady (1986), Golden Opinion (1989), Kissing Cousin (1994), Crimplene (2000), Ghanaati (2009), Rizeena (2015)

Day 5 - Saturday, June 23
■ Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) 6f
■ Great Commotion (1990), So Factual (1995), Atraf (1996), Royal Applause (1997), Malhub (2002)

JULY

Saturday, July 7
■ Sandown Park
■ Eclipse Stakes (G1) 1m 2f
■ Pebbles (1085), Mtoto(1987-88), Nashwan (1989), Elmaamul (1990), Opera House (1993), 1994, Ezzoud (1994), Halling (1995, 1996), Daylami (1998), Refuse to Bend (2004), Mukhadram  (2014), Hawkbill (2016)

July Festival July 12-13
■ Newmarket
Friday, July 12
■ 250th Falmouth Stakes (G1) 1m
■ Al Bahathri (1985),  Sonic Lady (1986), Sonic Lady (1987), Magic Gleam (1989), Sensation (1996), Alshakr (2000), Tashawak (2002), Rajeem (2006), Nahoodh (2008), Music Show (2010).

Saturday July, 13
■ Darley July Cup (G1) 6f
■ Habibti (1983), Green Desert (1986), Ajdal (1987), Soviet Star (1988), Cadeaux Genereux (1989)
■ 1993, Hamas (1993), Elnadim (1998), Dream Ahead (1011), Muhaarar (201, Harry Ange (2917).

King George Meeting - July 28
■ Ascot

Saturday, July 28
■ King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) 1m 4f
■ Mtoto (1988),  Nashwan (1989), Belmez (1990), 1993 Opera House (1993), King’s Theatre (1994), Lammtarra (1995), Swain (1997, 1998), Daylami (1999), Doyen (2004) Taghrooda (2014), Postponed (2015).

Glorious Goodwood July, 31 - August 4
■ Goodwood
■ Goodwood Cup (G1) 2m
■ Sadeem (1988), Sonus (1993), Kayf Tara (1999), Schiaparelli (2009), Opinion Poll (2011), Cavalryman (2014)

AUGUST

Wednesday August 1
■ Goodwood
■ Sussex Stakes (G1) 1m
■ Sonic Lady (1986), Soviet Star (1987), Zilzal (1989), Sayyedati (1995), 1999 Aljabr (1999), Noverre (2001), Proclamation (2005), Ramonti (2007)

Thursday August 2 
■ Goodwood
■ Nassau Stakes (G1) 1m 1f
■ Optimistic Lass (1984), Nom de Plume (1987). Hawajiss (1994), Zahrat Dubai(1999), Crimplene (2000),
■ Lailani (2001), Favourable Terms (2004)

Ebor Festival - August 22-25
■ York

Wednesday August, 22
■ Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) 1m 2f
■ Ezzoud (1993), Ezzoud (1994), Halling (1996), Singspiel (1997), Sakhee (2001), 2002 Nayef, Sulamani (2004), Authorized (2007), Postponed (201)

Thursday  August,23
■ Darley Yorkshire Oaks 1m 4f 
■ Awaasif (1982), Untold (1986), Diminuendo (1988). Punctilious (2005), Blue Bunting (2011), Pleascach (2015).

Friday August, 24
■ Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) 5f
■ Habibti (1983), Ajdal (1987), Cadeaux Genereux (1989). Dayjur (1990),  So Factual (1995)
■ Lonsdale Cup (G1) 2m
■ Opinion Poll (2011), Ahzeemah (2013).

SEPTEMBER

Haydock
Saturday September, 8
■ Sprint Cup (G1) 6f
■ Habibti (1983), Green Desert (1986), Ajdal (1987), Soviet Star (1988), Cadeaux Genereux (1989), Hamas (1993), Elnadim (1998), Dream Ahead (2011), 2015, Muhaarar (2015), Harry Angel (2017)

St. Leger Meeting 12-15
Doncaster, Friday September, 14
■ 250th Doncaster Cup (G1) 2m 2f
■ Al Maheb (1990), Sheikhzayedroad (2016)

Saturday September, 15
■ St Leger Stakes (G1) 1m 6f 
■ Touching Wood (1982), Oh So Sharp (1985), Moonax (1994), Classic Cliche (1995), Shantou (1996), Nedawi (1998), Mutafaweq (1999). Rule of Law (2004).2009. Mastery 2009), Encke (2012)

Cambridgeshire Meeting. September 27 - 29
Friday, September 27
■ Shadwell Rockfel Stakes (G2) 7f
■ Shadwell Joel Stakes (G2) 8f

Saturday, September 28
■ Cheveley Park Stakes 6f
■ Middle Park Stakes 6f
■ Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap) 9f

Mutafaweq, ridden by Richard Hills winning the St Leger at Doncaster. It is the oldest of Britain’s five Classics. Agencies

OCTOBER

Sun Chariot Day
Newmarket, October, 6
■ Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) 1m
■ Dusty Dollar (1986), Indian Skimmer (1988), Red Slippers (1992), La Confederation(1994), Warning Shadows (1995), Echoes in Eternity (2003), 

Dubai Future Charmpions Day Festival
Newmarket, October 12-13
■ Fillies Mile (G1) 1m
■ Diminuendo (1987), Shamshir (1990), Ivanka (1992), Aqaarid (1994) Glorosia (1997), Teggiano (1999), Crystal Music (2000), Hibaayeb (2009),White Moonstone (2010), Lyric of Light (2011), ertify (2012)
■ Godolphin Dewhurst Stakes (G1) 7f
■ Ajdal (1986), Prince of Dance (1988), Pennekamp (1994), 1995 Alhaarth (1995),1996 In Command (1996), Mujahid (1998), Tobougg (2000), New Approach (2007), Dawn Approach (2012)

British Champions Day
Ascot, October 20
■ British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2)  2m
■ British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) 6f
■ British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) 1m 4f
■ Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) 1m
■ Champion Stakes (G1) 1m 2f
■ Pebbles (1985), Indian Skimmer (1988), Tel Quel (1991), Hatoof (1993), Nayef (2001), Storming Home (2002), Haafhd (2004), New Approach ()2008), Farhh (2013).

October 27
■ Doncaster
■ Racing Post Trophy (G1) 1m
■ Al Hareb (1998), Medaaly (1996), Dilshaan (2000), Ibn Khaldun (2007), Casamento (2010)