A Guide to Horse Racing in Dubai

Horse racing is more popular than ever before and our favorite sport is gradually becoming more diverse in terms of the geographical locations where you’re able to enjoy it. We are beginning to see horse racing in places that you wouldn’t have previously imagined, such as the Middle East. One location where horse racing is now available to enjoy is Dubai, so we thought we would take a look at the city with a little more detail. As you might expect, there are some pretty stringent rules when it comes to horse racing here.

Dubai Experiencing Phenomenal Growth

There can be no arguing just how much the city has grown over the last 20 years, as it is now a truly cosmopolitan hub welcoming people from all over the world. You can visit Dubai for both business and leisure purposes, and although the city has strict laws to be aware of, there are now plenty of ways to find entertainment, including horse racing and gambling. Dubai built a heritage on horse racing and you can find this sport all over the city.

The main place for سباقالخيل (horse racing) is the Meydan Racecourse, and you will find that this course is impossible to miss. The grandstand can accommodate 60,000 people, which is around your average Premier League stadium. It’s the largest single structure of its kind and horse racing in Dubai is mainly hosted here, with plenty of horse racing events to choose from. The complex also offers a nine-hole golf course as well.

Dubai Horse Racing World Cup

Not only does Dubai offer horse racing in all its glory, there’s also the Dubai World Cup. This tournament takes place on the last Saturday in March every year. While the contest has been around for many years, it’s now bigger than ever and is very much a social event. Nine races featuring reputable runners with a purse of at least $10 million on certain races means that you can’t underestimate the finances involved.

While the Emiratis native to the city are known for their own individual participation in various events, including the World Cup, there are a number of jockeys who travel from all over the world to compete in the city. Among them are individuals such as Frankie Dettori and Jerry Bailey, who have each won the World Cup on more than one occasion. The city is attracts some of the best racers from around the globe.

Trainers

Some will argue that Saeed bin Suroor is the best trainer within the city, with seven World Cup wins under his belt. He has trained horses for some of the biggest events across the globe, including the UK’s Ascot World Cup and France’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, so he’s another example of the horse racing talent that Dubai attracts. Dubai will be a key player in the horse racing industry for many years to come, and we can only see this trend continuing.