The decision will be implemented in QREC meetings at both Al Rayyan and the Al Uqda racecourses in the 2023-2024 season, the QREC said yesterday.
This boost comes with the aim of increasing competition and raising the standard of racing in Qatar in line with the state’s drive to promote this long-established sport, achieve more heights, have more horses, especially through the victories of Qatar’s horses overseas and attract international runners to the races run in Qatar.
Speaking on the occasion, QREC chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi, said the increase approved for the next season’s races is lucrative and will add to the thrill and quality of racing. “I would like to thank the higher authorities for their constant support for horse racing and their keenness on continuous development, in terms of both racing quality and organisation”, he said.
“This increase comes a few days after the approval to boost the prize money of the HH The Amir Sword Festival to $10,000,000 starting this season. This figure is more than double the value of the Festival’s prize money in previous seasons. Consequently, we, at QREC, are entering a very important stage and we will work to make the maximum use of this support and drive for continuous development.”
Al-Mohannadi said: “The recent increase covering the race meetings of the next season, which we announced today, highlights the part which horse owners, trainers and jockeys will play as they are first beneficiaries of this rise. They are, therefore, required to raise the standard of their horses, which would in turn contribute to QREC’s efforts to raise the standard of the industry.”
“In addition, they should utilise this increase to maintain the bright image of Qatar’s horse racing and keep pace with the surge, which QREC will see in the near future. We are confident that all owners, trainers and riders cooperate with QREC in favour of Qatar’s equestrian sport in general and horse racing in particular. This increase will also help us enhance cooperation with our partners and will motivate more sponsors to join the QREC’s success partners,” he added. “We are preparing for the HH The Amir Sword Festival, which is the most important and prestigious event at QREC every season. We are determined to continue the success of the Festival,” he said.
‘QREC raising racing standard’
Commenting on this rise, QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohamed al-Darwish, said: “The increase covers 163 various races throughout the next season. There will be 64 cup races for horses rated 90 and higher and group races, including 36 races offering a purse of QR200,000 each, 11 offering QR150,000 each, 15 offering QR100,000 each and two Guineas races for three and four-year-olds offering QR200,000 each. The total prize money proposed for the 64 cup races amounts to QR10,750,000, compared to QR6,115,000 for the same races during the current season.”Al-Darwish said: “The new increase involves 61 handicap races for horses rated 90 and higher. Of these 61 races, 46 will have a pot of QR100,000 each. Only one race will have a pot of QR80,000 and it will be for horses rated 0-95. In addition, 14 races will offer a pot of QR120,000 each and these will include two races for horses rated 0-95 and the rest will be for horses 0-100. The total prize money proposed for these handicaps amounts to QR6,360,000 compared to QR3,390,000 for the same races during the current season.”
Speaking about the rise in the prize money of the races open for the highest rated horses, Bader al-Drawish said: “These will be 30 races, including 26 with a purse of QR100,000 each and four with a purse of QR120,000 each. The prize money rise proposed for these races amounts to QR3,080,000 compared to QR2,230,000 for the same races during the current season.”
QREC Acting CEO concluded: “There will be eight group races and their prize money will be boosted. Seven of them will have a prize money of QR100,000 per race and one will offer QR120,000. The total prize money rise proposed for these races amounts to QR720,000 compared to QR575,000 for the same races during the current season.”
QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi said: “The increase in the prize money of the next season will be a positive development in enhancing the standard of runners and owners’ interest in owning top horses that can land the spoils. I expect to see a higher standard of racing and horses next season, especially with such a lucrative increase in 163 races.”
