Dubai-backed Arabian racing series gets funding boost with finale worth £212,500

There will be increased investment in the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) programme for 2020, with five of the eight races at Newbury on July 26 receiving an increase in prize-money, bringing the total value of the card to £212,500.

The most significant increase of £10,000 is to the feature race, the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes, which now has a prize fund of £68,000.

The ten-furlong contest has been won by many of the world’s most successful Arabian horses, including Bengali D’Albret, Dormane, No Risk Al Maury and more recently Gazwan and Muraaqib.

The Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes has been boosted by £5,000 to £40,000. Exclusively for fillies and mares, the race also has an impressive list of multiple Group 1 Purebred Arabian winners, including Sylvine Al Maury and Djainka Des Forges.

The DIAR International Stakes, the UAE Embassy in London International Stakes and the Emirates NBD Handicap Stakes also receive increased prize-money.

The renewal of travel allowances for international runners at DIAR on July 26 and the DIAR bonus fund has already been confirmed, with further details to follow.

Genny Haynes, Arabian Racing Organisation commercial and finance director, said: “We are thrilled that the DIAR Committee has boosted the prize-money for DIAR 2020 by over £19,000 and we also recognise the importance of the increased support for the DIAR races in Italy and France.

"The success of DIAR 2019 and the prep race series was evident in the number of entries received and, in particular, the significant increase in international horses declared. It confirms the growing appetite for international Arabian racing at the highest level, which we at ARO are delighted to encourage as it is part of our patron HH Sheikh Hamdan’s vision for the day.

“DIAR consistently produces competitive racing of the highest quality at all levels, a fact acknowledged by the prize-money increase not only to our feature race but to the grassroots handicap as well.”

She added: “We thank HH Sheikh Hamdan and the DIAR committee for their generous and ongoing commitment to Arabian racing. We eagerly await the start of the 2020 DIAR series, which begins on April 19 in Rome, with our first domestic DIAR prep race on June 11.”

DIAR SERIES 2020
April 19, Capanelle; June 11 Newbury; June 12 Chepstow; June 14 Bro Park; June 23 Newbury; June 28 Duindigt (The Netherlands); June 29 La Teste de Buch; July 2 Newbury, July 9 Newbury, July 26 Newbury

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