It started with the Dubai World Cup, then the world’s richest horserace, in 1996. That gave rise to the Dubai World Cup Carnival seven years later, now with eight lavishly endowed racedays at Meydan racecourse from January to March. Then in 2020 came the $20 million Saudi Cup, which has taken over as the richest race on the planet and is the centrepiece of a card that attracts top-quality runners from all over the world.
But now international racing in the Middle East is taking on an even more exciting lease of life. The latest nation to step forward is the Kingdom of Bahrain, which staged its first international race, the Bahrain International Trophy, in 2019 and is now expanding significantly with the valuable new Bahrain Turf Series.
The third running of the £500,000 International Trophy, now a G3, takes place on Friday, November 19, just three weeks before the December 10 start of the new Turf Series, in which the island’s Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club will be staging ten races at Sakhir racecourse, with a minimum value of £50,000, including £30,000 to each winner, culminating in a finals day on March 4,
The idea is to encourage overseas trainers to set up satellite yards in the Kingdom, although six of the ten races are also open to those flying in, referred to as ‘guests’. In addition, flights are included for horses, while connections are entitled to a £12,500 expenses voucher, on a reimbursement basis.
Here Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa (pictured above), executive director of the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club, tells George Dudley about the plans - and the hopes - for the series.
Could you tell me about your role in Bahraini racing?
I have been with the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club for the past two years. It is an exciting time, for me personally, to be part of the progression and development that is happening in the horseracing industry within the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Of course it is a huge challenge, but I think that we are taking the right steps forward. The growth is happening slowly but surely. It is a learning curve for us all, as a team, hosting the first Bahrain International Trophy in 2019 and the second the following year – both were very successful races, in terms of the quality of the fields and the competition.
The event itself went well and the participants were very happy to be a part of it. To be honest, the most encouraging thing to us was the feedback we got from visiting trainers and owners. The interest that we have seen has been very encouraging, which is what has led us to go back and look at how we can expand our other races.
There was more than one idea on the table, but in the end the Turf Series was the choice. I think that it is a great opportunity. It will cater for trainers, jockeys and owners from all over the world to participate and see the best of what we have to offer.
If you would like to go with numbers: The first year of the Bahrain International Trophy the average [rating of the] first four placings was 107, the second year it was 113. It was nice to have such a jump in quality. We had five Group 1 horses in year 2, so I think that we have set a pretty high benchmark for our race and now we will try to make it even stronger.
The Turf Series will include ten races. The horses that fly into Bahrain will be distributed into two pots. Pot A is for horses that are going to be running in 6f and 7f races, while Pot B will be for those participating in 9f and 10f races.
It took us and the committee a long time to work out what would be the best distances. I think that we have reached a good conclusion, which will cater for everyone and be for horses rated 85-100.
It falls at a really good time of the year and is a good alternative to winter racing in Europe. It’s going to be exciting, and we are looking forward to it.
Apart from Dubai, racing in the Middle East has only recently begun to attract international runners. Do you think that, with events such as yours, the Dubai Carnival, the Saudi Cup and Qatar, the region is cementing a narrative and becoming a very strong alternative for winter racing in the Northern Hemisphere?
To be honest, we have always been in talks with Saudi and the UAE, it is just more formalised now. We are sitting and meeting regularly to put strategies in place that will help us as a racing jurisdiction, promoting our races together and sharing thoughts when choosing dates for our races.
At the end of the day, we would like to make sure that we get it right and suitable for the participants. I believe that sitting around a table with Saudi and Dubai to brainstorm is very effective – it will help promote racing and participation within the region.
The short-term target is obviously to attract the world with a big race. What is the long-term goal? Are there aspirations to create a wider breeding industry?
We have been breeding horses in Bahrain for years and it is definitely an important side to the industry. It is, of course, not as easy because of the climate.
It is, however, a passion for a lot of breeders here to increase the profile of breeding in the Kingdom of Bahrain and attract top-quality stallions and mares to come to the island. It is part of the industry, and I have no doubt that it will grow with time.
Have you been to visit any of the great racing and breeding centres of the world, such as Newmarket or Lexington?
I have been to many across the globe to increase my knowledge.
I have been going to Newmarket for a very long time. The Kingdom of Bahrain and the Jockey Club go back a long-time – in fact, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been sponsoring races at Newmarket for over 40 years. That shows the partnership and collaboration that is there - officials from the Jockey Club attend fixtures in the Kingdom of Bahrain regularly and we are very happy with the partnership.
Bahrain has hosted many international sporting events this century, such as the final race of the Formula One season. Which ones have you taken inspiration from?
Formula One is the biggest international sporting event we host in the Kingdom of Bahrain. For years, it has attracted a lot of tourism and investment to the island. It has had a major impact on both of those industries.
I think that investing in sports has a huge effect when it comes to attracting foreign investment and tourism. We have felt that from year one.
One of the comments that we got from an overseas trainer was, “Bahrain was a great surprise.” I feel really good when I listen to some of the trainers say that they would love to come on holiday to Bahrain in their free time. This proves that it works. These events have a strong effect.
Is the main objective then to get people to come for a flagship race and then discover the further attractions of the island?
No, the main objective is to attract top-quality horses to participate and to host races with a strong calibre of participants, which will add to our racing jurisdiction. It will be positioned at a different level.
Our ultimate goal is to have top-quality racing in the Kingdom of Bahrain. I have no doubt that the Bahrain International is already a strong race on the global calendar. It is a race that many international trainers are considering, albeit mainly from Europe because it is on turf.
I had a meeting today with the IRB [International Racing Bureau] and it was really nice to hear the interest from top, top trainers.
Aside from being in charge of the management team at the racecourse, I am someone who is really enthusiastic about the sport. So, to see a horse like [Aidan O’Brien’s 2019 Irish Derby winner] Sovereign run in Bahrain meant a lot.
That is what you want at the end of the day, to see these top-calibre horses participate and, hopefully, create a better competition.
Who would be on the top of your list to contest this year’s iteration of the Bahrain International Trophy?
There are a few that we have discussed, to be honest, but it’s down to the trainers and them looking at the options. Some trainers would look at prize money, but I think that most trainers would try to pick the most suitable race for their horse, be it dirt, turf or the proper distance.
It shouldn’t stop a horse going to the Breeders’ Cup wanting to participate in Bahrain right after. Depending on how they are coming out of the races, they will have enough time.
Order Of Australia is a horse that is trained by Aidan O'Brien and won the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile. I think that, if he ended up coming here, he would be a very strong contender and I think that the ground and distance would suit him.
Do you see a certain type of profile being ideal to succeed in Bahrain?
Yes, it has to be a horse that likes fast ground. It is really quick ground here. It needs to be horse that can travel. Those would be the two main attributes for a horse to be suitable for the International.
You have talked about attracting the international competitors and your own lifelong passion for the sport. What has the domestic fan uptake been like?
It's huge, to be honest. Because of the Covid restrictions last year, we couldn’t take in the general public, but, if you look at the photos and images of the first Bahrain International, it was great.
We didn’t know what to expect. Racing has always been very popular in the Kingdom of Bahrain and there has always been a lot of crowds on a weekly basis for domestic fixtures. However, for the International, the grandstand was at full capacity, with crowds cheering as the horses got to the line. It was a great feeling and wonderful sight to see.
I have no doubts that there is a huge love for racing, and it means a lot to the locals, as much as it does to the internationals.
Going back to the Turf Series, I honestly believe that a lot of the local trainers and jockeys are looking forward to it. It is a great opportunity for them to interact with professional trainers and jockeys coming from all over the world, and I am sure that they would be happy to interact.
I also think that the added prize money would add value to every local owner, trainer and jockey.
You have already expanded the format after only two races of the International. Do you have any further expansion plans or is this it for the foreseeable future?
There is no doubt that we will always expand, but this should happen gradually, and we should grow based on the demand. We have evaluated that the Turf Series is exactly what we needed right now, and it is, we believe, appealing to trainers in Europe.
We have had lots of trainers in England, Ireland and France who were all very positive about it. We will take it step by step, but there is no doubt that the racing programme is going to grow.
What do you think makes racing in Bahrain unique in the global calendar?
In addition to top-class facilities and a brilliant turf track, the people of Bahrain. All the visiting owners, trainers and jockeys felt very welcome. The whole nation is very welcoming, and we enjoy entertaining, which I think makes a difference.
This article appears in the current issue of Gallop magazine
New series provides hard-pressed UK trainers with valuable options