BackDubai’s most prestigious event, the Dubai World Cup, will be held in just two days at the world-renowned Meydan Racecourse. The 2019 event is being heralded as the most expensive horse race in the world, with a purse of USD 12 million. Below are some of the other high-end races taking place around the world.
Pegasus World Cup
Debuting in 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has been held at Florida’s Gulfstream for the past three years. The race takes place in January and in 2018, was the world’s most expensive race in 2018, with a pot of USD 16 million. The structure of this year’s race has changed so that the World Cup offered a prize of USD 9 million while a newly introduced turf race was worth USD 7 million.
The Everest
The Everest is the world’s richest race held on turf and has recently surpassed the Melbourne Cup to become Australia’s richest race. Taking place at the Royal Randwick course on October 12, it will have a purse of USD 14 million - technically making it more expensive than the Dubai World Cup, if not for the distinction in track surface.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic
Boasting a prize of USD 6 million, The Breeders’ Cup Classic is another major US thoroughbred race. It is considered to be an unofficial leg of the Triple Crown, a trio of races that together make up the most esteemed racing event in the United States. Unlike most other races, it is also held in a different location within the country each year - except 1992, when it took place in Canada. This year’s event is at Santa Anita Park, California on November 1 - 2.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Commonly known as the Arc, this is Europe’s most high-profile and most expensive racing event with a history going back 150 years. It is held at the Longchamps Racecourse in Paris, but was moved to Chantilly for two years while the historical venue got a much-needed upgrade. A purse worth USD 5.6 million makes it the second most expensive turf race after The Everest.
Japan Cup
It perhaps goes without saying that the Japan Cup is the most expensive race in Japan, with a total prize of UAD 5.6 million. Unlike the other races on the list, this is an invitational competition, with only 18 slots available and given to the very best. This year’s race will be held between October 5 and October 6 at the Tokyo Racecourse.
Dubai World Cup, the Everest and Breeders' Classic images courtesy of their respective Facebook pages. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe image courtesy of DSport and Japan Cup image courtesy of Virginia Thoroughbred Association.