Dubai Racing Club Partners with Breeders’ Cup Challenge for Four Dubai World Cup Races

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

The Dubai Racing Club has announced an important partnership with the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. This new agreement will give winners of four major Group 1 races at the Dubai World Cup meeting a guaranteed place in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The four races included in this deal are:

• Dubai World Cup (G1) – Winner qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Classic
• Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) – Winner qualifies for the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint
• Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) – Winner qualifies for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
• Dubai Turf (G1) – Winner qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Mile

This means that the winners of these races in Dubai will get direct entry into the corresponding Breeders’ Cup races in the United States later in the year.

The Dubai World Cup meeting is scheduled for April 5, 2025, at Meydan Racecourse. It is one of the biggest horse racing events in the world, attracting top horses, trainers, and jockeys from different countries. This new partnership will further strengthen its reputation and importance in global horse racing.

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Leaders React to the Partnership

Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, called this partnership a major step forward for international horse racing. He said that both the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup are among the most important events in the sport. He also thanked the Breeders’ Cup for expanding their Challenge Series, allowing four winners from Dubai to compete in the U.S. in 2025. He added that Dubai will also welcome winners from the 2025 Breeders’ Cup to race at Meydan in March 2026.

Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited, said he is pleased to expand the international Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series by adding these four Dubai races. He explained that this partnership helps unite horse racing on a global level and rewards top horses that compete at the highest level. He also praised the teamwork and shared vision that made this agreement possible and looks forward to seeing the Dubai winners compete at Del Mar, California, on October 31 and November 1, 2025.

Additional Benefits for Winning Horses

As part of this partnership, winners of the four Dubai races will not have to pay entry fees for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Also, a travel allowance will be provided for horses traveling from outside North America. To take advantage of these benefits, horses must be officially nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by October 20, 2025.

In addition, the deal works both ways. The winners of the four corresponding Breeders’ Cup races will also get automatic entry into the Dubai World Cup meeting in 2026.

This agreement strengthens ties between two of the world’s biggest horse racing events and creates new opportunities for international competition. With the best horses from Dubai and the U.S. competing in each other’s races, fans can expect even more thrilling and high-quality racing in the coming years.