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UK ARABIAN RACING SEASON STARTS WITH THE QATAR INTERNATIONAL STAKES The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) announced this week that the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) have confirmed that the Qatar International Stakes will go ahead as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2020 on the rescheduled date of Saturday August 1st. Held over a mile on the historic Sussex Downs, the Group 1 PA contest forms the first stage of the Qatar Triple Crown. Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) CEO Nasser Bin Sherida Al Kaabi commented: “Supporting and Promoting Arabian racing at this difficult time is an achievement which QREC has been able to realise through coordination with ARO and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and we do appreciate their cooperation. This year’s edition will be exceptional as it comes during the Covid-19 pandemic and the related new challenges. Therefore, racing at the Qatar Goodwood Festival will remain special as ever”.
For 2020, the race will be run for an agreed prize fund of £200,000 with prize money down to sixth place. This is in-line with the reduction of thoroughbred prize money across the board due to Covid19, but it is still the most valuable Purebred Arabian race in the UK. Following the BHA Resumption of Racing update of June 5th, the race will be open to international runners, but all entrants must comply with the relevant UK government rules and the BHA’s guidelines and operating procedures for racing behind closed doors. The UK government guidelines for quarantine for international travel are due for review on June 29th so further revisions are anticipated.
Ebraz (GB) wins the 2019 Qatar International Stakes. THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE
