Press release: Bahrain Turf Club announces 20% prize money rise for 2022/23 season

BAHRAIN TURF CLUB

The Bahrain Turf Club is delighted to announce a 20% increase in prize money for the 2022 Bahrain International Trophy and the 2022/23 Bahrain Turf Series. The total prize money for the Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy has gone up to £600,000 for 2022, an £100,000 increase from last year. Meanwhile, each of the ten Bahrain Turf Series races will now be run for £60,000 per race, up from £50,000 last season.

The Bahrain International Trophy, which was first run in 2019 as a conditions race, was upgraded to Group 3 status for the first-time last year with Lord Glitters narrowly beating Barney Roy in a pulsating finish to the 1m 2f contest. The race has been supported by some of the world’s leading trainers including John & Thady Gosden, Andrew Balding, Aidan O’Brien and Andre Fabre.

Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al Khalifa, Executive Director of The Bahrain Turf Club believes that this increase in prize money will only cement the race further on the International racing calendar. He said: “We are delighted to announce an increase in prize-money for our feature race, the Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy. We are continually looking to develop horseracing in The Kingdom and by making this race more valuable, we believe that it is now firmly established on the international programme. We look forward to this year’s renewal and hope that we will attract some of the best horses from around the world.”

The inaugural Bahrain Turf Series took place during the 2021/22 season in Bahrain with many top yards supporting the series including Charlie Appleby, William Jarvis, Jamie Osborne, and Michael Bell. The series is open to horses rated between 85-100 and will now be worth £60,000 per race. The 10-race series, which starts again on 9th December, will take place over five race days with the final Series race day taking place on 17th February.

The Bahrain Turf Series will also have a bonus point system attached depending on where horses finish. The points will be added at the end of the series. Like last year, there will be two Pots; Pot A will be for horses racing over 5 & 6 furlongs (1000m & 1200m) and Pot B for 9 & 10 furlongs (1800m & 2000m) The owner of the horse with the most points in each pot will get £15,000 and the trainer of the horse with most points will get £10,000. This will mean an extra £50,000 in total prize money.

Edward Veale, Head of Racing at the Bahrain Turf Club added: “We are delighted that the Bahrain Turf Series will return this winter for increased prize money. Having studied in-depth the statistics around prize money both in the UK and Bahrain, our findings have shown that horses rated between 85 & 100 earned around 50% more prize money in Bahrain compared to those running in the UK between 10th December 2021 and 18th February 2022.*

“With 20% more prize money on offer this winter, we see the Bahrain Turf Series as an excellent option for owners and trainers wishing to race their horses throughout the winter months for greater return compared to staying in the UK.”

Notes to editors:

* Of the 126 horses in the UK who were rated between 85-100 on 10th December 2021 and who subsequently raced between 10th December 2021 and 18th February 2022:

Average prize money in that period: £6,951.90

Of the 48 horses in Bahrain who were rated between 85-100 on 10th December 2021 (including European horses that raced in the Bahrain Turf Series) and who subsequently raced between 10th December 2021 and 18th February 2022:

Average prize money in that period: £13,300 10 horses earned more than £24,000 6 horses earned more than £30,000 3 horses earned more than £63,000 Bahrain International Trophy:

The following conditions apply for the Bahrain International Trophy (G3) to be run on Friday 18th November 2022

Total Race Value will be £600,000. Distributed in the following order:

  • £360,000 to the winning horse
  • £120,000 to the second
  • £60,000 to the third
  • £24,000 to the fifth

Open to:

  • 3 years old & up
  • There will be a maximum field size of 14 runners.
  • 2000 metres on the turf in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
  • Enter by noon on Wednesday 5th October 2022
  • NO entry fees on that date.

Horses need to be rated 95 or over by their domestic authority at the time of closing.

  • Final declaration will be done on Sunday 13th November, 11am The Kingdom of Bahrain time
  • NO declaration fee
  • Declarations to be made to racing@rehc.gov.bh
  • Post-Position Draw to take place on Wednesday 16th November in The Kingdom of Bahrain.
  • REHC will guarantee at least three slots in the Bahrain International Trophy for locally trained horses.
  • Automatic Invitation

There will be three races which will grant ‘Automatic Invitation’ to the winners even if not originally entered:

  • Saturday 13th August, The Curragh – Fitzdares Royal Whip Stakes (G3)
  • Saturday 20th August, York – The Sky Bet and Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (G3)
  • Saturday 8th October. Newmarket – The Darley Stakes (G3) * Acceptances from winners of the above races must be confirmed within 14 days of the entry closing date on Wednesday 5th October.

Weights

  • Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds and upwards 58 Kgs
  • Northern Hemisphere 3 year olds 56.5 Kgs
  • Fillies and Mares allowed 2 Kgs
  • No penalties to carry

Bahrain Turf Series prize money

The race series will have a total of £600,000 prize money fund. £60,000 is allocated per series race with the purse distributed as follows:

  • £36,000 to the Winning Horse.
  • £12,000 to the Second.
  • £6,000 to the Third.
  • £3,600 to the Fourth.
  • £2,400 to the Fifth.

The turf series will also have a bonus point system attached depending on where horses finish. Points will be awarded accordingly:

  • 1st – 15pts
  • 2nd – 10pts
  • 3rd – 7pts
  • 4th – 5pts
  • 5th – 3pts
  • Completed finish – 1pt

The points will be added at the end of the series. The owner of the horse with the most points in each pot will get £15,000 and the trainer of the horse with most points will get £10,000.

This will mean an extra £50,000 in total prize money. Should there be a tie for 1st place, the winner will be awarded by most wins. Should the results still be tied, the prize will be shared.