Dubai World Cup or Dubai World Cup Night is currently one of the most famous and prestigious international horseracing competitions in the world. The Dubai World Cup attracts the best stables, the best thoroughbred horses and the best jockeys to take part in this annually held horseracing competition. Needless to say, that the founder of Dubai World Cup was the Sheikh of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who is an avid fan of horses and did all his best to create the very best racing and breeding stables in the world called Godolphin and Darley Stable.
Dubai‘s long-time favourite sport has been camel racing. If you go to Dubai, you can see locals going crazy, cheering at camel racing championships. In addition, the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Al Maktoum is crazy for camel-races. Other avid passion of Arabic people is the horseracing. Keeping and breeding the best quality horses has been problematic in Dubai for a long time as the transportation of horses was prohibited for a considerable time. Then, due to all efforts, and money, the world of horseracing has managed to open its doors to Dubai, who was not late and immediately bought the best collection of thoroughbred horses in the world to keep, train and breed them in the best stables in the world. Godolphin Racing the most successful racing team owned by the Sheikh, has by far, won the most international and national competitions as well. It currently holds the record for having the most victories per racing team, also at Dubai World Cup.
The first Dubai World Cup took place in 1996 and ever since, it is one of the most important annual sport–event in the cultural life of Dubai. Of course, it takes place in Dubai; there are many ways, which make this racing competition alone, standing. This is the world’s richest horseracing competition owning a purse of more than 20 million EUR this year. Talking more about the races, they are flat-ground races, and from last year, the whole event has moved from Nad Al Sheba racecourse to the Meydan Racecourse, specifically built to be the very best racecourse of Dubai, especially for Dubai World Cup and other important horse racing competitions. Meydan Racecourse is one of the most expensive and most beautifully made racecourses in the Middle East and around the globe.
Dubai World Cup has started to gain international attention after several international channels, such as ABC and HRTV, broadcasted it. For the very first time, this event had live broadcastings on television internationally.
Dubai World Cup is held yearly, starting in the beginning of March. The whole event is called Dubai World Cup Night a collection of diverse races. The following races are part of Dubai World Cup Night: Dubai Kahayla Classic, exclusively for Arabic purebred horses, Al Quoz Sprint, Godolphin Mile, U.A.E Derby, Dubai Golden Shaheen, Dubai Duty Free Stakes, Dubai Sheema Classic and the Dubai World Cup itself.
