Purebred Arabian racing received a huge boost on Wednesday when the Qatar Arabian World Cup became the world’s first €1 million (Dh5m) event.
The Arabian World Cup is staged in October under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faleh, chairman of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, during the two-day Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp in Paris.
The prize money is a 40 per cent increase on last season’s €700,000 purse, the lion’s share of which went to Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed after Mushrae’s success.
The Arabian World Cup featured a purse of €450,000 when it was first run on the Arc card in 2008, when Sheikh Mansour’s Lahib became the inaugural winner.
Sami Jassim Al Boenain, QREC general manager and chairman of the International Federation of Arabian Horseracing Authorities, said: “This initiative will ensure that Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend will continue to stage the two most prestigious flat turf races in the world for thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians for a long time to come.”
The Qatar Arabian World Cup is one of eight European Group 1 races for Purebred Arabians backed by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
Seven of those races are held in France and are run at Deauville, Saint Cloud, Chantilly, as well as Longchamp.
The remaining European Group 1, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Harwood International Stakes, is staged on the Classic St Leger card at Doncaster Racecourse in England.
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