His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktourn, UAE Vice President, confirmed March 27th as the official grand opening of the new US $2 billion Meydan Grandstand and Race Track — the day of the world’s richest horse race: the Dubai World Cup.
This brand new complex offers a marina, hotel IMAX cinema as well as a world class horse racing venue that will signal the defining moment in the sport’s global history. Unparalleled levels of luxury, customer comfort and racing technology will combine to create the ultimate horseracing experience. There is a 290-room five-star hotel, with 95 per cent of the rooms boasting magnificent views of both the state-of-the-art 2400m turf and 1750m all-weather surfaces.
A 4km canal linking the course and the Dubai creek has even been built so that Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and the driving force behind racing in the region, can access the course via his luxurious boat to avoid traffic in and out of the extravagant carpark, which has been built in the shape of a falcon.
The Meydan Racecourse features a left-handed 2400m turf circuit outside of a 1750m All Weather track. A 1200m turf straight course adjoining the outside track makes it ideal for a straight grass sprint, which will increase opportunities for the best horses from around the world to compete and win on.
To celebrate the 15th renewal of the Dubai World Cup and opening of the iconic Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse on March 27, 2010, the Dubai Racing Club has announced an extension of the programme to eight races.
The Dubai World Cup is now an eight-race meeting, hosting four Group 1, two Group 2 and one Group 3 Thoroughbred races as well as one Group 1 Purebred Arabian race, worth a staggering US$26,25 million, making it one of the richest sporting events in the world.
Dubai World Cup Programme 2010
Dubai World Cup (Group 1)
US$10,000,000
2000m All Weather
Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1)
US$5,000,000
2400m Turf
Dubai Duty Free (Group 1)
US$5,000,000
1800m Turf
Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1)
US$2,000,000
1200m All Weather
UAE Derby (Group 2)
US$2,000,000
1900m All Weather
Godolphin Mile (Group 2)
US$1,000,000
1600m All Weather
Al Quoz Sprint (Group 3)
US$1,000,000
1200m Turf
Dubai Kahayla Classic (Group 1)
Purebred Arabians
US$250,000
2000m All Weather