23 December 2014, UK ~ Goodwood Racecourse has announced a new 10-year partnership with Qatar, which is the single biggest sponsorship deal ever inked for the benefit of British racing. Commencing in 2015, this makes the Qatar Goodwood Festival one of the most significant and valuable meetings in the world.

 Photo: Lord March, owner of Goodwood, Mr Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah , President of Qatar Equestrian Federation, and Mr Adam Waterworth, Managing Director of Goodwood Racecourse

The partnership results in over £2 million being invested into prize money for eight key races during the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2015 as well as a commitment to increase this year-on-year. Total prize money on offer for the week now totals £4.5 million, with Qatar once again demonstrating their passion and support for British racing.

• The Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, scheduled for Wednesday, 29th July, has a total prize fund of £1 million cementing its position as one of the most valuable mile races in the world.
• The Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, the feature race on the Saturday of the Qatar Goodwood Festival is now worth £600,000, making it the most significant mid-summer race for fillies.
• Each Group 2 feature race, The Qatar Lennox Stakes (Tuesday), The Qatar Goodwood Cup (Thursday) and The Qatar King George Stakes (Friday) are now worth £300,000, recognising their recent records for attracting some of the best horses at their respective distances. In addition, Qatar has guaranteed that if any current Group 2 race achieves Group 1 status, the prize money will rise to at least £500,000.

Other races to benefit from increased prize money are the two Group 2 races for two-year-olds, The Qatar Vintage Stakes and The Qatar Richmond Stakes, each of which will run for £200,000, supporting their status as the proving grounds for future champions.

The Qatar Stewards’ Cup is the headline handicap of the week with prize money now totalling £250,000 and, as part of this uplift, the consolation race rises to £75,000. This is a perfect example of how strongly Goodwood and Qatar feel about supporting racing at all levels.

The inaugural Qatar Goodwood Festival will take place from Tuesday, 28th July to Saturday, 1st August 2015.

Arabians

There will two races at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for Arabian horses, with one being the first leg of the Arabian Triple Crown. The second leg will take place on Arc day in France. The final race of the Triple Crown is in Doha, Qatar.

Lord March, Owner of Goodwood,  said: “I am delighted that Qatar had decided to play a significant part in Goodwood’s position as one of the finest racing experiences in the world. Goodwood has, for more than 200 years, been about the best racing in the most English of settings, accessible to everyone. Our partnership with Qatar will make an enormous contribution to horseracing in the UK.

Mr Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, said: “Goodwood is already one of the most iconic sporting festivals of the British summer season and we are delighted to be the title sponsor over the five days. The sponsorship demonstrates Qatar’s further commitment to British racing and, with such huge prize-money on offer, we hope it will help to attract international runners from all over the world as well as continuing to see the best in Britain, France and Ireland.”

“Thanks to the wise guidance of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar supports sport all over the world.”

“Adam Waterworth, Managing Director of Goodwood Racecourse, added: “I think Arabian Racing will be a great addition. There is a bit of a history of Arabian horses racing at Goodwood and for us this is another part of what the Qatar Goodwood Festival will become. We hope to build other equestrian disciplines and sports around the week.”

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