Stacked fields for opening Bahrain Turf Series races

TDT | Manama                                                       

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A stacked line-up of top-class contenders are set to compete in the first two races of this year’s Bahrain Turf Series, which gets underway tomorrow at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club in Sakhir.

Running all the way through to February, the Bahrain Turf Series provides opportunities for internationally trained runners (rated 85 to 100) to compete against local Bahrain-based horses across 10 events.

Each race is worth $80,000, with bonus prizes for the horses accumulating most points in the two divisions, sprint and middle distance. The opening event in this year’s Bahrain Turf Series is the Al Muharraq Cup by Texel Air, a middle-distance race.

It is scheduled for a 2.20pm start tomorrow, to be run over 10 furlongs. Fourteen horses are entered, featuring a number of top world-renowned owners, trainers and jockeys. The Al Manama Cup by BBK will also be held tomorrow, scheduled for 2.50pm at REHC.

The sprint will take place over a five-furlong distance with up to 19 runners in the fray, also with many leading names in the sport participating. In other races tomorrow, three REHC Cups will be up for the taking in the day’s second, fifth and eighth races.

The first two carry a $8,000 total prize while the last event offers a $12,000 purse. The Irish Thorough - bred Marketing Cup will also be on offer in the seventh and penultimate race of the day, which also features an $8,000 total prize.

The Bahrain Turf Series was launched in 2021/2022. It runs alongside the domestic programme in Bahrain, with international horses competing in the series also eligible to run in other Bahrain Turf Club races open to imported horses.