The Middle East is increasingly prominent in the global sports arena, hosting major tennis, golf, and boxing events. Horse racing, in particular, has deep roots in the region and has been a significant economic contributor for the past two decades. Many of the world’s top horses frequently compete in the Middle East, aiming for high-stake wins in some of the most prestigious races globally. Online horse racing betting in the Middle East is also extremely popular, with many bettors seeking significant returns annually. In this article, we will look at some standout races on the Middle Eastern horse racing schedule and their famous equine stars.
There are few more popular sporting events in the Middle East than the Dubai World Cup, with the feature race forming the headline act of a memorable night of action annually in March. The Dubai World Cup was formed in 1996 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and it has quickly become one of the most profitable nights of the year for connection. The Dubai World Cup boasts a purse of $12 million, with the field competing over 2,000 meters on the dirt. It quickly became a race of huge significance, as the inaugural running of the race was won by future United States Hall of Famer Cigar.
Legendary winners have continued to land success in Grade 1, including Curlin in 2008, Arrogate in 2017, and Country Grammer in 2022. Ushba Tesoro made history in the 2023 edition of the race, as the runner landed only a second win in the race for Japan before finishing second in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic later in the season.
The night of action at the Dubai World Cup is also headlined by one of the standout races of the season on turf. The Dubai Sheema Classic was added to the international calendar in 1998, with Meydan hosting the prestigious Group 1.
This race will see the field compete over 2,400 meters on the turf, with a purse of $6 million being available to connections. It has been run as a Group 1 race since 2002 and is one of the most valuable turf races on the international calendar. As a turf race, it is typically targeted by runners from Europe, which is evident from the fact that John Gosden has trained the winner of the Sheema Classic on three occasions.
Mishriff was one of the most memorable recent winners of the race after landing success in 2021, while Japanese trainers have dominated the previous two editions. There was huge excitement in 2023, as the world’s highest-rated horse dominated the field when Equinox broke the long-standing track record for trainer Tetsuya Kimura. Once again, it will be a standout race in 2024.
While Meydan hosts one of the most exciting nights on the horse racing calendar, one of the most lucrative on the global calendar comes from the Saudi Cup. This race boasts a staggering purse of $20 million, with the winner picking up half of the purse.
The Saudi Cup was formed in 2020, and it is held a month after the G1 Pegasus World Cup and four weeks before the G1 Dubai World Cup, meaning that runners can compete in all three lucrative races on the dirt schedule. The Saudi Cup is over 1,800 meters, taking place at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. It was upgraded to Group 1 status for the race’s third edition in February 2022.
Maximum Security was the controversial first winner of the race in 2020 for trainer Jason Servis and jockey Luis Saez. Mishriff succeeded in the race for John Gosden in 2021 before Emblem Road landed glory for the UAE in 2022. The most recent winner of the race was Panthalassa for Japan, as the six-year-old held off the challenges from Café Pharoah and Country Grammer.
Horse racing in the Middle East continues to be one of the most lucrative sports, with some of the biggest purses in the sport being available across Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Such is the competitive action in the Middle East, the sport has never appeared to be in a brighter position than it is at present. Therefore, it promises to be a thrilling year of action in the Middle East in 2024.
Subscribe today and receive latest Livery List news and guides direct to your inbox