Showpiece horserace to shine global spotlight on Bahrain

TDT | Manama                  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

The £600,000 Bahrain International Trophy will be available to watch in 165 countries today, with the Kingdom’s showpiece race attracting unprecedented television interest.

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and HBA Media (HBA), two of the world’s leading horseracing media rights companies, working with the Bahrain Turf Club, have delivered record coverage, with 20 networks broadcasting the event.

A field of 10 horses, representing five countries – including from the powerhouse stables of Andre Fabre, Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor – will go to post for the highlight of the season in Bahrain.

The home team is headed by Dilawar, trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by the world’s most famous jockey, Frankie Dettori. The race is due off at 4.05pm local time. Some of the world’s leading sports broadcasters taking live coverage include Fox Sports in the US, ESPN/Star+ in Latin America and Caribbean, SuperSport in Africa and NENT in Europe.

The full list includes: North and South America, plus the Caribbean: Fox Sports, TVG (US); ESPN/Star+ (50 countries in Latin America, Caribbean); SportsMax (Caribbean); Europe: Equidia (France); Polsat (Poland); Racing TV (UK, Republic of Ireland); Setanta (14 countries in Balkans and Eurasia); SilkNet (Georgia); Viaplay (10 countries in Europe); Ssport (Turkey); Virgin (Republic of Ireland); Wedo (Germany, Austria, Switzerland); Asia and Australasia: racing.com (Australia); Sony Pictures Network (7 countries in Indian subcontinent); SPOTV (14 countries in SE Asia); Wasu (China); Middle East and Africa: Bahrain TV, Dubai Racing Channel (17 countries in MENA); SuperSport (48 countries in Africa); 4Racing (16 countries in Africa).

The Bahrain Turf Club’s Regulatory Affairs Executive Director Shaikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa said: “We are really delighted that the Bahrain International Trophy, in only its fourth year, has attracted a record number of broadcasters, with audiences in all corners of the globe able to watch on Friday.

“TV exposure is vital to the success of racing in Bahrain, and we hope that everyone watching enjoys what should be a very exciting race.” RMG is also delighted to be working with Timeline TV in co-producing the live one-hour world feed programme.

Seb Vance, Director of Communications and International TV Distribution at RMG, added: “RMG is honoured to be working closely with the Bahrain Turf Club for the fourth season now, through our production, distribution and marketing partnerships.

The take-up of broadcasters is exceptional and everyone at RMG and HBA, our distribution partners, is delighted with the shop window secured for Bahrain racing.”