Dubai Racing
Racing and Dubai World Cup
The racing season runs from November through to March. The UAE has three main racecourses - Nad Al Sheba/Meydan (Dubai), Jebel Ali (Dubai), and Abu Dhabi.
Racing usually takes place during the season on Sunday evening at Abu Dhabi, Thursday evening at Nad Al Sheba, and Friday afternoon at Jebel Ali. The Winter Racing Challenge dominates the months of November and December.
The Dubai International Racing Carnival kicks off in January culminating in Super Thursday as a precursor to the Dubai World Cup.
In 1996, Sheikh Mohammed founded the Dubai World Cup, the most extraordinary event on the world racing calendar - and its richest, with more than US$21 million in prize money. The first race was won by the future US Hall of Fame thoroughbred, Cigar. Since then, the event has established itself as one of the most important fixtures on the international horseracing calendar.
The Dubai Racing Club holds the Dubai World Cup (DWC) at the end of March each year and hosts race contenders from all over the world, including North and South America, South Africa, South East Asia, Australasia and Europe.
Please click here to view the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) 2008/2009 Racing Calendar or to view the major UAE races and Dubai World Cup please click here.
Meydan
In 2010, Meydan will replace Nad al Sheba as a showcase of international racing and entertainment facilities of the future. This horseracing city incorporates a world-class 60,000 capacity 1km grandstand, featuring a 1,750m synthetic track, and a 2,400m turf track, a five-star hotel, golf course, more than ten restaurants, the Godolphin gallery and museum, and the Dubai Racing Club office. A covered 10,000 space car park along with train and water transport service the racecourse and Meydan business district. Visit www.meydan.ae or www.dubaiworldcup.com to learn more about racing in Dubai.
Godolphin
Godolphin was established by Sheikh Mohammed in 1992 with its headquarters based at Al Quoz Stables, Dubai. Each winter a team of horses that will carry the royal blue colours the following season are trained for the international campaigns that lie ahead.