Dubai Racing Club has announced a new partnership with the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, granting winners of four Group 1 races at the Dubai World Cup meeting automatic entry to the prestigious Breeders' Cup World Championships. The winners of the G1 Dubai World Cup, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, and G1 Dubai Turf will secure automatic berths in corresponding Breeders' Cup races. This will enable four winners from the Dubai World Cup 2025 meeting to compete in the United States later this year.
As part of the agreement, winners of the four Breeders' Cup races will also receive automatic entry into the corresponding races at the Dubai World Cup 2026 meeting. Winners of four Group 1 races at the Dubai World Cup meeting will gain automatic entry to the prestigious Breeders' Cup World Championships. Additionally, Breeders' Cup will cover the entry fees for the winners of the four Dubai races to compete in their respective divisions at the Breeders' Cup World Championships 2025.
Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, expressed his excitement: "This is a significant development for international horseracing, further strengthening the position of both the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders' Cup — two of the most important events on the global racing calendar."
Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited, highlighted the importance of this partnership: "This partnership with the Dubai Racing Club reflects the continued progress toward the global unification of our sport and rewards international contenders for competing at the highest level."
The Dubai World Cup winner will gain entry to the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Dubai Golden Shaheen winner will qualify for the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, the Dubai Sheema Classic winner will earn a spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, and the Dubai Turf winner will secure a place in the Breeders' Cup Mile. The Dubai World Cup meeting, set to take place on 5 April 2025 at the iconic Meydan Racecourse, is renowned as the world's most spectacular race day.
To receive these benefits, the Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup programme by the pre-entry deadline of 20 October 2025. A travel allowance will also be provided for all starters based outside North America.
