Qatar, represented by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), has renewed the sponsorship of the Qatar Goodwood Festival up to 2024.
The renewal of the sponsorship for the annual mega event, which has been held at the iconic racecourse for over 200 years, was announced during a meeting held between QREC chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi and the Duke of Richmond, owner of the Goodwood racecourse, in the presence of QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida al-Kaabi.
The initial sponsorship term will expire in early August this year with the fifth edition of the five-day Festival. The first edition of the Qatar Goodwood Festival was launched in late July and early August of 2015. The huge success of the Qatar-sponsored Festival over the last few years has motivated Goodwood racecourse to renew the sponsorship and continue the partnership with Qatar at such a global event.
“Based on our experience over five years at the Qatar Goodwood Festival,” the QREC chairman said, “the agreement to renew Qatar’s sponsorship realises one of the objectives of QREC that Qatar has its well-deserved standing worldwide. In fact, the outcome of this sponsorship over the last five years has benefited Qatar in general and Qatar’s equestrian sport in particular because it promoted the name of Qatar at such international gatherings.
“It has also helped foster our relations and co-operation with horse organisations in the United Kingdom. Besides, it enhances Qatar’s commitment to purebred Arabian racing with races run at the world’s top level and at Goodwood as one of the most important and iconic racecourses worldwide. The Festival also involves the first round of the Doha Triple Crown for pure Arabians.
“Goodwood racecourse officials realise that the Qatari sponsorship has contributed immensely to adding brilliance and thrill to the famed Festival with top races run in presence of the world’s top horse owners and breeders.”
Qatar’s sponsorship of the Festival is the first of its kind for Qatar’s equestrian sport and horseracing in the United Kingdom. The Festival features the Qatar International Stakes (Group 1 PA), which is the first round of the Doha Triple Crown. The other two rounds are the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Group 1 PA) during the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp in Paris in early October, and HH The Amir Sword (Group 1 PA) at Al Rayyan Park in February.
Some of the top thoroughbred races at the Festival include the Qatar Goodwood Cup (Group 1), the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1), the Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1), the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2), the Qatar King George Stakes (Group 2) and the Qatar Gordon Stakes (Group 1).
The sponsorship renewal agreement was signed by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi (second from left) and the Duke of Richmond (second from right) in the presence of QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida al-Kaabi (left).
