Racetrack

Meydan Racecourse

Founded in 2010

Meydan Racecourse is the main Thoroughbred venue in Dubai and home of Dubai World Cup Night, the richest race day in horse racing. Opened on 27 March 2010 on the site of the former Nad Al Sheba, it features a 2,400 m turf course and a 1,750 m dirt course, plus a half-mile grandstand with capacity for more than 60,000 spectators.

Traditional races

3 races on record in Turfdex

G1

2 races
  • Dubai Turf

    1800 m · Turf · March · since 1996

  • Dubai World Cup(draft)

    2000 m · Dirt

G2

1 race
  • UAE Derby(draft)

    1900 m · Dirt

Tracks

2 tracks on record

  • Surface:
    Turf
    Perimeter:
    2,400 m
    Direction:
    Left-handed
  • Surface:
    Dirt
    Perimeter:
    1,750 m
    Direction:
    Left-handed

    Previously Tapeta synthetic surface; replaced by natural dirt.

Racetrack history

Meydan Racecourse officially opened on 27 March 2010 on the site previously occupied by Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, in Meydan City, Dubai. The venue is owned by the Dubai Racing Club and forms part of the long-term vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai. The master plan was developed by Teo A. Khing Design Consultants.

The complex covers 7.5 million square metres and includes a half-mile grandstand, a five-star trackside hotel with 285 rooms —The Meydan, the first of its kind in the world—, a horse racing museum, restaurants, a nine-hole golf course, a marina and offices. Total capacity reaches around 60,000 spectators and the parking facility holds up to 8,600 vehicles.

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It has two left-handed race tracks: a 2,400-metre turf course and a 1,750-metre (8.75 furlong) dirt course. The outer track was originally laid with Tapeta synthetic surface, later replaced by natural dirt. The racing season runs from November through March and includes the Winter Racing Challenge, the Dubai International Racing Carnival and Dubai World Cup Night.

Dubai World Cup Night offers over US$26.25 million in prize money across nine races —six of them Group 1— on a single day, making it the richest race meeting in the international calendar. Headline races include the Dubai World Cup, the Dubai Sheema Classic, the Dubai Turf, the Dubai Golden Shaheen, the UAE Derby, the Al Quoz Sprint, the Godolphin Mile and the Dubai Gold Cup.

Beyond racing, Meydan has hosted concerts by Lady Gaga, Elton John, Santana, Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson and Sia, and its interior was used as a filming location for Star Trek Beyond. On 16 February 2024, Saffie Osborne became the first female jockey to win a race at the venue, taking the Lord Glitters Handicap.

Sources

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