Qatar season to kickstart on Wednesday
Emir's Sword Festival, the highlight of the 47-day horse racing season, is scheduled to be held in February.
QREC’s 2019-20 season will feature 47 races and continue till April next year. Photo: QREC/TwitterThe 2019-2020 racing season will get underway at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) at Al Rayyan Park on Wednesday.
Eight races will feature on the first day with the Owners Cup, which carries a prize money of QR100,000, being the highlight.
QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi said the season would last 47 days and the final race would be held on April 23, 2020.
EMIR SWORD FESTIVAL
- February 22, 2020: HH The Emir Sword (Group 1 PA) for Purebred Arabian horses
- Prize Money: $1000000
- February 22, 2020: HH The Emir Trophy (Group 1) for Thoroughbreds
- Prize Money: $1000000
HH The Emir’s Sword Festival, which will be held over three days, from February 22, 2020, offers huge prize money.
QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi said, “HH The Emir Sword (Group 1 PA) for Purebred Arabian horses and HH The Emir Trophy (Group 1) for Thoroughbreds will have a purse of $1,000,000 each. Both races are for over four-year-old horses and will be run over 2400M”.
The Qatar International Derby will take place on December 20 and 21. The first day will feature the Class 1 Races — Al Rayyan Stakes and Qatar Oaks (F) Group 3, each carrying a prize money of $100,000 each. The Class 1 races are for thoroughbreds.
The second day will feature the Qatar Derby Group 1 race for Class 1 Thoroughbreds with a prize money of $500,000.
Al Kaabi outlined QREC’s two key objectives in the new season.
“We aim to enhance racing standards and promote equestrian culture in the society in line with QREC’s strategy,” he said.
