17 August 2023, Dubai, UAE ~ Racing at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse will begin on 10 November 2023, and end on 8 March 2024, with 14 meetings, all leading up to the $30.5million Dubai World Cup meeting on 30 March. Dubai Racing Club has increased prize money by 27 per cent from the 2022-23 campaign, meaning that the minimum prize money per race is AED165,000.
December will highlight Festive Friday on the 22nd, with six Pattern races including the G2 Maktoum Mile, now worth AED1million.
One of the biggest meetings of the year in the Middle East is set to be Fashion Friday, on 26 January, which stages nine Pattern races. The featured G1 Maktoum Challenge, a notable prep race for the Dubai World Cup, carries an elevated purse of AED3.68million, while the G1 Jebel Hatta is worth AED1.85million.
A popular social occasion, Super Saturday retains its usual slot on 2 March and includes the G2 Al Maktoum Classic, upgraded G3 Ras Al Khor, and the Listed Jumeirah Guineas – won in 2023 by subsequent G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj.
Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club, commented: “we are delighted to unveil the full programme for our exciting new-look season here in Dubai. The programme is diverse and caters for a wide range of horses, both Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred. We hope that our excellent prize money and world class facilities will continue to attract the best in the sport to race here in Dubai.”
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