Bahrain Race Draws International Interest

Nine European-based challengers will make the trip to face five locally trained runners in the Nov. 22 Bahrain International Trophy Stakes, a 2,000-meter race (about 1 1/4 miles) at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club that carries a purse of £500,000 (US$645,000).

Some of the top runners include Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Afaak, who defeated 27 runners in a June 19 one-mile handicap at the Royal Ascot meeting. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will enter Turgenev, a group 2-placed son of Dubawi who will race in the Godolphin colors.

Bahrain, a Part III country in the International Cataloguing Standards Book, is looking to improve its racing. Speaking after the post position draw Nov. 20 at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club executive director, said the field has turned heads.

"Attracting so many top owners, trainers, jockeys, and horses for our first international race has exceeded our expectations and means a lot for Bahrain, but I am sure this is only the beginning of a successful journey to establish our country in the racing calendar."

Salman later added: "As well as benefiting our racing, I believe the event will do a lot to help tourism in Bahrain. We have put in place a schedule of events that will enable visitors to have a look at our country, which will add value to their experience. Our aim is for everyone to leave with a positive image of Bahrain."

Salman paid tribute to the REHC's local partners—Gulf Air, Bapco, and Batelco—and to those associated with managing the racecourse. He said: "Everyone involved in making the race meeting happen has worked from the heart."

He also praised the work of Neil Mackenzie-Ross, who joined the racing club as facilities manager and clerk of the course five years ago, saying: "Neil has done a magnificent job with the turf course under difficult conditions, and those trainers who have been to the track have been most complimentary."

Mackenzie-Ross, who spent nine years in a similar role at Lingfield Park in England, is excited to see the Bahrain International Trophy Stakes become a reality.

"The reason for coming to live and work in Bahrain was to get to a position where we could have international racing, so there is a real sense of achievement about staging the Bahrain International Trophy."