Arabian-bred racehorses will race for the first time at the prestigious Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, later this year in a $50,000 stakes.
The race will be sponsored by Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Equestrian Federation.

On May 11, plans for the race were approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Aside from Abu Dhabi’s equestrian federation, the plan was supported by prominent Arabian owners and breeders throughout the United States as well as the Keeneland Association.

The race will be held during the World Equestrian Games, which will be held in Kentucky in late September and early October.

“This is truly a win-win for everyone involved,” Keeneland president and chief executive officer Nick Nicholson said in a statement. “At a time when much of the world is focusing its eyes on central Kentucky, this event will further expose people to Thoroughbred racing and the wonderful culture and history surrounding Arabian horses.”

Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, the secretary general of the Emirates Equestrian Federation, said in a statement the race will enhance Abu Dhabi’s presence in Kentucky. “The partnership with Keeneland and the state of Kentucky signifies the further expansion of Abu Dhabi into the global market in many aspects of commerce, trade, and tourism, while maintaining our commitment to our heritage.”

The $50,000 stakes, which will be run over 1 1-4 miles on the Polytrack synthetic surface, will be held on Saturday, October 9, the second day of the Keeneland meeting. The race is scheduled as the second race on a program that will draw attention from bettors and racing enthusiasts throughout the country.

The opening weekend of the Keeneland fall meeting is dominated by major prep races for the Breeders Cup races, which will be held at Churchill Downs in November. In addition to the Arabian race, Keeneland officials are holding discussions with Emirates officials about a sponsorship program for the First Lady Stakes, a Group 1 for Thoroughbred females on turf that will be run the same day.

The Keeneland Arabian stakes is expected to draw heavily from the older horse division at Delaware Park, as well as other parts of the nation, and fits well with the stakes schedule from Delaware. The Keeneland race will serve as a prep race for the $75,000 Delaware Park Arabian Championship over 1 1-4 miles, is scheduled for November 6.

The Keeneland Arabian race is the second lucrative stakes that Abu Dhabi is supporting in the United States this year. Earlier this year, the formation of the $40,000 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan Arabian Cup over 1 1-16 miles at Delaware Park on July 17 was announced. The Grade 3 race is part of a series of races run for older horses in Europe, and will be offered in the United States for the first time this year.