HORSERACING – BAHRAIN is playing an important role in promoting increased co-operation across leading horseracing jurisdictions in the Gulf.
This was highlighted at the 41st Asian Racing Conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last week.
The event was attended by a strong delegation from Bahrain Turf Club, headed by CEO Yusuf Buheji.
Bahrain is one of the founding member states of the Gulf Horseracing Council (GHC), which was established in February of 2025 with the overarching aim of promoting and harmonising racing in the region. It is a collaborative body designed to unify, regulate, and advance the sport across the member states of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Qatar, with Kuwait as an observer.
The work of the GHC aims to increase confidence and participation across the region and it has prioritised the delivery of frictionless movement of horses, the development of an aligned race programme, and a robust regulatory and integrity system.
Within its first year of operation, standardisation has been agreed on horse movement protocols, along with amendments to the Group and Listed programme and the establishment of a shared Pattern book.
Bahrain Turf Club’s racing and international relations director Ed Veale chairs its race programmes committee. Speaking at the Conference, Veale said: “Bahrain views regional co-operation as essential to the sustainable growth of the sport in each of the jurisdictions.
“One of the first items we collectively identified is that there’s a responsibility for us to be working together so that we showcase what the full race programme has to offer. We want to maximise participation and encourage cross-border participation.
“Bahrain has always been a hub, a connector, a gateway to the region – a country that really understands the importance of co-operation and the value of working together.
“Our domestic programme expansion is now aligned with the regional framework. We are coordinating race calendars to reduce scheduling clashes and strengthen field sizes, and our feature races fit into the wider vision for collective progress.”
Also speaking at the conference, the GHC chair Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi highlighted the significance of new agreements between GHC countries regarding various regulatory matters, as well as confirming that samples for all Group and Listed races across the region would be analysed by an International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)-approved laboratory to further strengthen integrity.
“Collectively, the agreements reinforce confidence among owners, trainers, jockeys and international visitors, while ensuring that Gulf racing continues to align with recognised international best practice and regulatory standards,” Al Shehhi said.
“Equally significant has been the co-operative spirit among the Gulf authorities throughout this process. The ability to reach consensus across jurisdictions demonstrates a shared commitment to harmonisation and long-term sustainability.
“These agreements therefore represent not only technical progress but a meaningful step toward a unified Gulf racing framework that delivers clear benefits to all.”
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