DUBAI, March 19: The US$15.25 million Dubai World Cup horse races will go ahead as scheduled on March 29 despite the prospect of a US-led invasion of Iraq, the chairman of the organizing committee confirmed Wednesday.

“It’s all systems go for the Dubai World Cup, with a majority of the overseas horses already here,” said Les Benton, the chairman of the Dubai World Cup.

The seven-race Dubai World Cup meeting at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse attracted 13 American and three Brazilian runners, who have all arrived in this southern Gulf emirate.

Horses and trainers from France, Britain, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as the United Arab Emirates, are also competing in the world’s richest horse-race meeting.

“The Dubai World Cup will be held as scheduled and there is absolutely no change on that date,” stressed the top official. “The war is not in Dubai.”

“Travel arrangements to send the horses back after the Dubai World Cup are in place,” Benton said.—APP/AP