Fixture for the new racing season was approved by His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA).
Commenting on the new calendar, Sheikh Mansour said: “We are pleased to release the fixtures for the 2016-17 UAE racing season. The schedule offers trainers and race goers a comprehensive season across our five tracks.
“We offer racing for domestic and international horses in both the Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian ranks and look forward to the start of another successful season of racing in the UAE.
“Spectators and racing aficionados will be treated to yet another renewal of a top quality flat racing season where the best horses, jockeys and trainers will be contesting for success in the meetings held at the country’s best racecourses.”
The ERA season opens at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday, October 28 this year. The action moves to the Sharjah Racecourse a day later.
The season’s first race at Meydan Racecourse is scheduled for Thursday, November 3, while Abu Dhabi Racecourse begins its season three days later on Sunday, November 6.
The first race at Al Ain Racecourse will be on Friday, November 18.
In a change to the 2015-16 season schedule, the Dubai World Cup Carnival double-header moves from the first weekend in March to Thursday, February 9 and Saturday, February 11 with Super Saturday, the official prep for the Dubai World Cup, taking place on March 4.
The Dubai World Cup Carnival, which was worth $40m in prize money and was spread over 11 race days this year, will once again feature high-class international race days contested by the most high-profile owners, trainers, horses and jockeys in the world. It will comprise 10 race days in 2017.
The UAE racing season will include 10 meetings at Al Ain Racecourse, 15 at Abu Dhabi Racecourse, 11 at Jebel Ali Racecourse, six at Sharjah Racecourse and 20 at Meydan Racecourse.
Each of the five ERA racecourses will stage a signature day of racing. Abu Dhabi Racecourse will host the world’s richest Purebred Arabian contest, The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown. Al Ain Racecourse offers the Al Ain Mile for Purebred Arabian horses contested on dirt. The Ruler of Sharjah serves as Sharjah Racecourse’s signature event, while Jebel Ali offers the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile and the Listed Stakes and Sprint.
The season ends with the Dubai World Cup, while the last races in Jebel Ali, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi scheduled on March 17 to March 19 respectively. Sharjah’s season-ending race will be on March 11.
