The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) will once again resonate with the sounds of horses’ hooves, as the new season gets underway on Wednesday.

The Qatar Derby and the Emir Sword’s Festival are in December and February respectively but before these two events come around, racegoers can have their fill from a packed calendar.

Wednesday will feature an eight-race card and the Owners Cup, scheduled at 8.45 pm, is the highlight. The 1900M race is for purebred Arabian horses and features a total prize money of QAR 100,000.

The well-known stables Al Shaqab Racing and Al Shahania Stud have entered a horse each in this race. Al Walid, trained by Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, will represent Al Shaqab Racing and Rajeh, trained by Gassim Mohammad Ghazali, is from the Al Shahania Stud.

Another Ghazali-trained horse, Carab, owned by Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, will also feature in the race.

On Thursday, the Al Ghariya Cup, with a prize money of QAR 100,000, takes centrestage in an eight-race card. The 1400M race is a Class 2 affair for thoroughbred fillies and mares. Two horses from Injaaz Stud will compete in the nine-horse field. Five horses trained by Ghazali will also feature in the 8.45 pm event.