Dubai: Dubai Racing Club has announced a new partnership with the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, granting winners of four Group 1 races at the Dubai World Cup meeting automatic entry to the prestigious Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
According to Emirates News Agency, the winners of the G1 Dubai World Cup, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, and G1 Dubai Turf will secure automatic berths in corresponding Breeders’ Cup races. The Dubai World Cup winner will gain entry to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Dubai Golden Shaheen winner will qualify for the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the Dubai Sheema Classic winner will earn a spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, and the Dubai Turf winner will secure a place in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The Dubai World Cup meeting, set to take place on 5 April 2025 at the iconic Meydan Racecourse, is renowned as the world’s most spectacular race day. This partnership further strengthens its status as one of the premier global horseracing events, attra
cting elite horses and connections from around the world.
Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, expressed that this development is significant for international horseracing, enhancing the stature of both the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup. He thanked the Breeders’ Cup team for expanding their Challenge Series, enabling winners from the Dubai World Cup 2025 meeting to compete in the United States and anticipates welcoming Breeders’ Cup 2025 winners to Dubai in March 2026.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup will take place at Del Mar, California, on 31 October and 1 November. Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited, emphasized that this partnership reflects progress toward the global unification of the sport and rewards international contenders for competing at the highest level. He appreciates the collaboration and shared pursuit of excellence that made this opportunity possible.
As part of the agreement, winners of the four Breeders’ Cup races will als
o receive automatic entry into the corresponding races at the Dubai World Cup 2026 meeting. Additionally, Breeders’ Cup will cover the entry fees for the winners of the four Dubai races to compete in their respective divisions at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships 2025. A travel allowance will also be provided for all starters based outside North America, provided the Challenge winner is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup programme by the pre-entry deadline of 20 October 2025.