The Dubai World Cup is one of the most highly anticipated events on the UAE sporting calendar and around the racing world.
Meydan Racecourse is expected to be packed to its 80,000 capacity for the 27th running of the meeting this weekend, with top equine connections vying for a slice of one of the biggest prize funds in the sport.
However, the spotlight will, undoubtedly, be on the Dubai World Cup race.
Country Grammer, the winner of the Dubai World Cup 12 months ago, is bidding to become only the second horse after Godolphin’s Thunder Snow to win the coveted prize for a second time.
Italian jockey Frankie Dettori will be attempting a record fifth Dubai World Cup win on the same horse he rode to victory last year.
What
The 27th running of the Dubai World Cup meeting will feature some of the top names in horse racing from all over the world, with the highlight being the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup, a 2,000m contest on dirt.
When
Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 3.30pm. The main Dubai World Cup race starts at 8.35pm UAE time.
Venue
Meydan Racecourse, Dubai.
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Frankie Dettori celebrates after guiding Country Grammer to victory in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan racecourse on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Pawan Singh / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Pawan Singh / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Pawan Singh / The National -
Frankie Dettori wins the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Pawan Singh / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum with Frankie Dettori. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Dubai World Cup on Country Grammer. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shahryar, ridden by Cristian Demuro, wins the Dubai Sheema Classic. Pawan Singh / The National -
Cristian Demuro celebrates after guiding Shahryar to victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Pawan Singh / The National -
Cristian Demuro after guiding Shahryar to victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Back to front: Panthalassa, Lord North and Vin De Garde going for the line in a thrilling finish to the Dubai Turf. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Jockeys Frankie Dettori and Yutaka Yoshida after the dead heat between Panthalassa and Lord North in the Dubai Turf. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Lord North, Panthalassa and Vin De Garde going for the line in the Dubai Turf. Pawan Singh / The National -
Lord North, Panthalassa and Vin De Garde going for the line in a thrilling finish to the Dubai Turf. Pawan Singh / The National -
Tadhg O’Shea celebrates after guding Switzerland to victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Pawan Singh / The National -
Trainer Bhupat Seemar after Switzerland won the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Tadhg O'Shea celebrates winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen on Switzerland. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Tadhg O’Shea after guiding Switzerland to victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi after Switzerland won the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Crown Pride, ridden by Damian Lane, wins the UAE Derby during the Dubai World Cup meeting. Pawan Singh / The National -
Damian Lane celebrates after guiding Crown Pride to victory in the UAE Derby. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Action from the UAE Derby. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Ronan Whelan, left, guides A Case of You to victory in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, March 26, 2022 Pawan Singh / The National -
A Case of You, close to the rail, on way to winning the Al Quoz Sprint. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A Case of You, ridden by Ronan Whelan, after winning the Al Quoz Sprint. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Ronan Whelan after guiding A Case of You to victory in the Al Quoz Sprint. Pawan Singh / The National -
Christophe Lemaire celebrates after guiding Stay Foolish to victory in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Pawan Singh / The National -
Christophe Lemaire guides Stay Foolish to victory in the Dubai Gold Cup. Pawan Singh / The National -
Christophe Lemaire celebrates after guiding Stay Foolish to victory in the Dubai Gold Cup. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Christophe Lemaire guides Stay Foolish to victory in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Ryusei Sakai celebrates on Bathrat Leon after winning the Godolphin Mile during The Dubai World Cup at Meydan racecourse on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bathrat Leon wins the Godoplin Mile. Pawan Singh / The National -
First Classs, second right, ridden by Ronan Thomas, wins the Dubai Kahayla Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Jockey Ronan Thomas celebrates after winning the Dubai Kahayla Classic on First Classs. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
First Classs, left, wins the Dubai Kahayla Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Trophies on display at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Action from the Dubai Kahayla Classic. Pawan Singh / The National -
Action from the Dubai Kahayla Classic. Pawan Singh / The National -
First Classs, ridden by Ronan Thomas, wins the Dubai Kahayla Classic. Pawan Singh / The National -
Ronan Thomas celebrates after winning the Dubai Kahayla Classic on First Classs. Pawan Singh / The National
What is special about this year's Dubai World Cup?
For the first time, the Dubai World Cup takes place during the holy month of Ramadan. Time to break fast will fall just after the sixth race — the $2 million Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, a 1,200m sprint on the dirt surface.
How much prize money will the winners earn?
The total prize fund for the Dubai World Cup weekend is $30.5 million, with the top prize being the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup.
Tickets
Tickets for the general public start from Dh20. The ticket sales office is located at the Meydan Racecourse and Grandstand Entrance, opposite Gate 2, and will be operational from 10am to 6pm until Friday. For all ticket inquiries, contact ticketoffice@dubairacingclub.com or call +971 4 327 2110.
How to watch Dubai World Cup in UAE
You can view the races live on Dubai Racing TV, or through Dubai Racing Club's social media channels.
Racecard
3.30pm: Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (Purebred Arabians), 2,000m (Dirt) - $1million
4.05pm: Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (Thoroughbreds), 1,600m (D) - $1m
4.40pm: Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB), 3,200m (Turf) -$1m
5.15pm: Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB), 1,200m (T) - $1.5m
5.50pm: UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB), 1,900m (D) - $1m
6.25pm: Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) (D) 1,200m - $2m
7.10pm: Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB), 1,800m (T) - $5m
8pm: Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB), 2,410m (T) - $6m
8.35pm: Dubai World Cup – Group 1 (TB), 2,000m (D) - $12m
Dubai World Cup race stats
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor (9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey (4), Frankie Dettori (4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin (9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow (2)
