{"id":64744,"date":"2025-04-06T08:36:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T04:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/?p=64744"},"modified":"2025-04-07T08:41:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T04:41:16","slug":"dubai-world-cup-2025-spectacular-event-new-champion-billion-viewers-worldwide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/dubai-world-cup-2025-spectacular-event-new-champion-billion-viewers-worldwide\/","title":{"rendered":"Dubai World Cup 2025: Spectacular Event, New Champion, Billion Viewers Worldwide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"read\">The 29th edition of the <a href=\"https:\/\/dubaiverse.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dubai<\/a> World Cup concluded last night at the iconic Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, showcasing a thrilling spectacle of horse racing excellence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">A total of 102 horses from 13 countries competed across nine races, with a combined prize pool of US$30.5 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">The main event saw a historic victory as \u201cHit Show,\u201d representing Wathnan Racing (Qatar) and ridden by jockey Florent Geroux, claimed the $12 million top prize\u2014the highest purse in global horse racing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">The 29th edition delivered excitement and excellence on every front, from fiercely contested races to world-class organisation and a vibrant crowd of over 60,000 spectators at the venue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">The event was broadcast with cinematic precision using dozens of cameras, accompanied by a host of engaging activities that captivated a diverse global audience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">With more than 1 billion viewers across 170 countries tuning in via TV, digital platforms, and in-flight entertainment, the Dubai World Cup once again demonstrated Meydan\u2019s enduring appeal as a global hub for purebred and Arabian horse racing\u2014blending tradition, sport, and modernity in the heart of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uaetoday.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UAE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">More than 15 years after its grand opening in 2010, Meydan Racecourse continues to uphold its reputation as one of the world\u2019s premier racing venues, thanks to its cutting-edge infrastructure and world-class facilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Since its inception in 1996, an initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai World Cup has consistently grown in prestige. Several of its races have earned a place among the Top 100 global horse races, a testament to its elite standing and rich heritage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">The 2025 edition reaffirmed the Dubai World Cup as the crown jewel of the international racing calendar, underlining the UAE\u2019s position as a global centre for the equestrian industry and its continuing leadership in hosting world-class sporting events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, General Manager and Board Member of the Emirates Racing Authority and Vice-Chair of the Asian Racing Federation, emphasised that the 29th edition of the Dubai World Cup has reinforced the event\u2019s ongoing success and longevity. He stated that it is a vivid reflection of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who envisioned the UAE as a global leader and central hub for horse racing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Shehhi said, \u201cThe Dubai World Cup continues to stand out globally, bringing together the elite of horses, owners, trainers, and jockeys. With its world-class organisation, massive spectator turnout, and hundreds of millions of viewers following the nine races\u2014offering a total prize pool of $30.5 million, including $12 million for the main race\u2014it remains a global benchmark in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">He further highlighted the role of Meydan Racecourse, with its state-of-the-art facilities, modern infrastructure, and highly skilled teams, in welcoming people from around the world in a uniquely diverse sporting celebration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">\u201cIt\u2019s a scene that mirrors the UAE\u2019s global standing and embodies the nation\u2019s humanitarian message\u2014one of tolerance, harmony, love, and mutual respect,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Al Shehhi also praised the Dubai Racing Club, chaired by Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook bin Juma Al Maktoum, for its outstanding efforts in organising the event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">\u201cThe Club delivered a world-class race day experience, enriched the evening with exciting side events, and ensured all logistical and operational needs for attendees were met with excellence\u2014presenting an honourable image of the UAE and Dubai to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Al Shehhi extended his congratulations to Qatar&#8217;s Wathnan Racing for the impressive victory of \u201cHit Show\u201d, ridden by jockey Florent Geroux, in the main race of the evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">He also praised the strong performance of the UAE\u2019s own \u201cDubai Future\u201d, trained by renowned Emirati World-renowned trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who claimed the title of the Dubai Gold Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">In addition, he commended the Emirati horse \u2018Dark Saffron\u2019 for winning the prestigious Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen race for purebred Thoroughbreds, celebrating yet another standout moment for Emirati racing on the international stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Jockey Florent Geroux, who clinched the Dubai World Cup title aboard \u201cHit Show\u201d, shared his excitement after the win, \u201cI always ride Hit Show the same way I did last night\u2014and he\u2019s always given me a great feeling. Everything unfolded in the best-case scenario I had envisioned. I had my eye on the rival horse, Forever Young, throughout the race.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Jockey Cristian Demuro, who delivered a thrilling last-second victory with Japan&#8217;s \u2018Soul Rush in the seventh race \u2013 Dubai Turf, one of the most dramatic moments of the Cup, reflected on his emotional win, &#8220;Last year, I was beaten by a nose (on Namur, second to Facteur Cheval). This year, I won by a nose. The luck was with me today&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Abdulaziz Al Maraziq, Executive Director of Dubai Stud, emphasised that the Dubai World Cup continues to solidify its global leadership year after year, thanks to the calibre of elite international horses it attracts and the thrilling competition for titles across all races.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">He stated, \u201cMeydan Racecourse has become a focal point of global attention, drawing top-tier participants from around the world. This year\u2019s races were marked by intense competition and surprising outcomes that defied expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"read\">Commenting on the victory of \u201cDubai Future\u201d, owned by Godolphin and trained by renowned Emirati trainer Saeed bin Suroor, in the second race despite being nine years old, Al Maraziq said, \u201cSome horses reach their peak and deliver exceptional performances even at an older age. It all comes down to the skill and success of the trainer\u2014and what \u2018Dubai Future\u2019 achieved is a testament to that excellence, experience, and outstanding training.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 29th edition of the Dubai World Cup concluded last night at the iconic Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, showcasing a thrilling spectacle of horse racing excellence. A total of 102 horses from 13 countries competed across nine races, with a combined prize pool of US$30.5 million. The main event saw a historic victory as \u201cHit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":64745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64744"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64746,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64744\/revisions\/64746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}