HORSERACING – The 2026 running of the prestigious Bahrain International Trophy will be a Group One race with a prize fund of $1.5 million, Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) announced yesterday.
This follows an upgrade in the event’s status and an increase in prize money.
This year’s horseracing spectacle takes place on November 13 at REHC and, following its promotion, the Bahrain International Trophy will be the first Group One race ever to be staged in the kingdom.
Established in 2019, the ten-furlong (2,000 metres) event is the most valuable in Bahrain and, over the course of its seven runnings, has climbed the ladder to Group One status.
“This is a proud moment for the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said Prime Minister’s Court Minister and REHC High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
“When we established the Bahrain International Trophy in 2019, it was always our ambition and belief that the race would grow to become our first Group One race. To have achieved that after only seven years is fantastic.
“Bahrain’s vision for horseracing is rooted in international collaboration, long-term development, and a clear ambition to continue elevating the country’s status within the global racing landscape.
“The embodiment of this strategy is the Bahrain International Trophy, now promoted to Group One status.
“I would like to thank all those who have supported the race in the past and we are looking forward to welcoming more visitors and more world-class horses for the 2026 Bahrain International Trophy.”
As the calibre of horses running in the Bahrain International Trophy has increased, so has the profile of the race.
Recent notable victors include the first two-time winner of the kingdom’s event, Spirit Dancer – co-owned by legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson – in 2023 and 2024, and Royal Champion, a subsequent Group One winner for trainer Karl Burke and currently one of the world’s top-rated horses.
“The Bahrain International Trophy is our flagship race and its promotion to Group One status represents a significant step in the development of horseracing in Bahrain,” said REHC CEO Yusuf Buheji.
“As well as the Bahrain International Trophy, the rest of our programme of premier races continues to grow, further increasing opportunities for international horses to compete throughout the season.”
Entries for the 2026 renewal of the Bahrain International Trophy close on September 30.
In November of last year, Royal Champion won the previous edition of the Bahrain International Trophy.
The seven-year-old gelding, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by fellow-Briton James Doyle for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum from the UAE, lived up to his name and took first place in what was then a Group Two event.
Royal Champion triumphed ahead of Galen, trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, while Military Order finished third for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick.
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