The history of the Dubai World Cup, the most prestigious evening of horse racing globally, continues tomorrow at the Meydan Racecourse with its 30th edition. Since its inaugural race in 1996, the total prize money has reached approximately $662 million (equivalent to AED 2.4 billion), including $251 million (AED 992 million) allocated to the winners of the main ninth race, the Dubai World Cup. The prize money is a cornerstone, affirming the strength and high stature of the races featured in the event, which has successfully attracted the world's top thoroughbreds since its inception. The current edition underscores this, featuring six races of the top 'Group 1' classification, alongside four supporting races of 'Group 2' status. Although the first Dubai World Cup in 1996 had a total prize purse of $4.7 million, the event's successes and Dubai's esteemed status as a global hub for horse racing, combined with the architectural marvel of the Meydan Racecourse, laid the foundation for an increase in the number of races, which in turn was accompanied by a rise in the total prize money. The growth in prize money is attributed to several factors, including the prestige of the races that attract an elite field of international horses annually, which has in turn elevated the event's status to the top 100 races in the world, according to the International Federation for Horseracing Authority.
