DUBAI, Sept 10: The Dubai World Cup has had its prize money increased by $6 million, further underlining the meeting’s status as the world’s richest day of horse racing.

The seven-race World Cup, to be staged at the Nad al Sheba club on March 25 next year, will now carry a purse of $21.25 million after an increase in prize money for two Group One turf races — the Dubai Duty Free and Dubai Sheema Classic.

The two races, which last year each had a purse of $2 million, will now offer $5 million with a first prize of $300,000, making them the richest turf races in the world.

“We are excited to announce an increase in prize money for the Dubai World Cup meeting, one of the most important events of the global racing calendar, said Saeed al Tayer, chairman of the Dubai Racing Club.

Won in 2005 by Elvstroem, the first Australian-trained horse to win at the Dubai World Cup meeting, the 1,777 metre Duty Free was first run in 1996.

The Sheema Classic, run over 2,400 metres, has continued to grow in prominence since it was first run in 1998 as the Dubai Turf Classic.—Reuters