(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Races at Doncaster in Britain and Longchamp Racecourse in France this week will be key for those keen on a shot at the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe glory next month, a top official of Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) said yesterday.
The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend - backed by QREC - in Paris will bring together the world's most talented thoroughbreds for a record purse of ¤1m reserved for the winner on October 5.
More than ¤5m will be up for grabs in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, making it the most richly rewarded turf race in the world. This is the total prize money allocated, which is split among the first three runners past the post.
Sami Jassim Al Boenain, the QREC General Manager, said yesterday: "We can't really reveal the top names for our race. We will have to wait for races at Doncaster on September 13 and the races at Longchamp this week to get a feel about the form of the horses ahead of Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe ."
Al Boenain added: "These two races will be key for all those wanting a shot at the world's richest race for Arabian thoroughbreds. We will know more about the names once the races take place at Doncaster and Longchamp."
He added: "I can tell you that we will have the best of the horses (in Paris). It is one of the most prestigious horse racing event in the world. The prize money of 1m Euros tells you how important this race is for jockeys and owners."
Al Boenain said the rich history of the race weekend will ensure another capacity crowd on October 3 and 4.
"This race is almost 100 years old. It has great following the world over," Al Boenain said.
"The world wants to be there for the weekend," he said.
REC - the host of the event - will be expecting another house full of 60,000 spectators at the racecourse, plus 1 billion television viewers in more than 45 countries.
On October 4, 17 international-level races, including the Qatar Arabian World Cup, which crowns the world's best Purebred Arab, will be staged at Longchamp Racecourse.
A total of 13 Group races, bringing together the world's best jockeys and most talented competitors, will be vying for a total prize bag of euros 7.9m over the weekend.
In 2008, France Galop and REC signed a partnership agreement for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, thus embellishing this legendary race with a record-breaking purse. As part of this partnership, another equally prestigious race was created: the Qatar Arabian World Cup, which is reserved for purebred Arabs and takes place at Longchamp racecourse on the same day as the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Since then, new agreements have been signed which have prolonged the sponsorship of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend until 2022.
The QREC continues to prove its commitment to sponsoring races reserved for purebred Arabs in France by financing 4 preparatory races and increasing the prize fund for the Qatar Arabian World Cup.
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