Boost in next racing season prize money

Bader Al Darwish: Supporting owners and raising horse and racing standard

Abdulla Al Kubaisi: Positive development for connections and racing

Attracting more sponsors to join QREC’s success partners in future

The Board of Directors of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), chaired by H.E. Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, announced an increase in the prize money allocated to the winning owners, trainers and jockeys in the race meetings to be organised by QREC at both Al Rayyan and the Al Uqda racecourses next season, 2023-2024. This boost comes with the aim of increasing competition and raising the standard of racing in Qatar in line with the with the state’s drive to promote this long-established sport, achieve more heights have more horses, especially through the victories of Qatar’s horses overseas and attract international runners to the races run in Qatar.

H.E. Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, confirmed that the increase approved for the next season’s races is lucrative and will add to the thrill and quality of racing. “I would like to thank the higher authorities for their constant support for horse racing and their keenness on continuous development, in terms of both racing quality and organisation”, he said, “This increase comes a few days after the approval to boost the prize money of the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival to USD 10,000,000 starting this season. This figure is more than double the value of the Festival’s prize money in previous seasons. Consequently, we, at QREC, are entering a very important stage and we will work to make the maximum use of this support and drive for continuous development.”

Connections have a part to play

Al Mohannadi added: “The recent increase covering the race meetings of the next season, which we announce today, highlights the part which horse owners, trainers and jockeys will play as they are first beneficiaries of this rise. They are, therefore, required to raise the standard of their horses, which would in turn contribute to QREC’s efforts to raise the standard of the industry. In addition, they should utilise this increase to maintain the bright image of Qatar’s horse racing and keep pace with the surge, which QREC will see in the near future. We are confident that all owners, trainers and riders cooperate with QREC in favour of Qatar’s equestrian sport in general and horse racing in particular. This increase will also help us enhance cooperation with our partners and will motivate more sponsors to join the QREC’s success partners.”

Winning the challenges

Al Mohannadi concluded: “We are preparing for the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival, which is the most important and prestigious event at QREC every season. We are determined to continue the success of the Festival. This year’s renewal will be special and different from previous ones, especially as it will be held only two months after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, whose resounding success makes us proud and determined to continue success in all fields. Qatar has proved to the world that it is truly capable of winning all challenges. It is now our turn to collaborate and concert our efforts to maintain this top standing.”

Al Darwish: Raising racing standard

Commenting on this rise, Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, said: “This increase contributes to raising the standard of racing and horses in Qatar and supports and motivates owners to improve the performance of their horses. The new increase covers 163 various races throughout the next season. There will be 64 cup races for horses rated 90 and higher and group races, including 36 races offering a purse of QAR 200,000 each, 11 offering QAR 150,000 each, 15 offering QAR 100,000 each and two Guineas races for three and four-year-olds offering QAR 200,000 each. The total prize money proposed for the 64 cup races amounts to QAR 10,750,000, compared to QAR 6,115,000 for the same races during the current season.”

Handicaps

Al Darwish added: “The new increase involves 61 handicap races for horses rated 90 and higher. Of these 61 races, 46 will have a pot of QAR 100,000 each. Only one race will have a pot of QAR 80,000 and it will be for horses rated 0-95. In addition, 14 races will offer a pot of QAR 120,000 each and these will include two races for horses rated 0-95 and the rest will be for horses 0-100. The total prize money proposed for these handicaps amounts to QAR 6,360,000 compared to QAR 3,390,000 for the same races during the current season.”

Speaking about the rise in the prize money of the races open for the highest rated horses, Bader Al Drawish said: “These will be 30 races, including 26 with a purse of QAR 100,000 each and four with a purse of QAR 120,000 each. The prize money rise proposed for these races amounts to QAR 3,080,000 compared to QAR 2,230,000 for the same races during the current season.”

Difference in prize money

Bader Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, concluded: “There will be eight group races and their prize money will be boosted. Seven of them will have a prize money of QAR 100,000 per race and one will offer QAR 120,000. The total prize money rise proposed for these races amounts to QAR 720,000 compared to QAR 575,000 for the same races during the current season.”

Al Kubaisi: Exciting Season

Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, said: “The increase in the prize money of the next season will be a positive development in enhancing the standard of runners and owners’ interest in owning top horses that can land the spoils. At the same time, the QREC management, represented by the Racing Department, have made the best of this increase by providing a racing programme, which will help realise the goals behind this increase and further develop this sport as a long established one in Qatar. I expect to see a higher standard of racing and horses next season, especially with such lucrative increase in 163 races.”

69 race days

A few days ago, QREC decided to hike the prize pot of the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival in an unprecedented way in QREC’s history. in addition, QREC’s calendar includes a total of 69 race meetings ,52 of which are at Al Rayyan and 17 at Al Uqda over six months and 12 days throughout the current season. Due to the increase of purebred Arabian and local purebred Arabian races, the total number of races increased to 548 compared to 533 races run last season.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club