HORSERACING – Bahrain's long-standing support for the prestigious July Festival at Newmarket Racecourse is a source of great pride for the kingdom, a top official has highlighted.
The Group Three Bahrain Trophy, held at Newmarket since 1991, was run on Thursday and won by Point Of Law, the horse owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the UK.
Two other Bahrain-backed races also took place, including the Group Two Princess of Wales’s Stakes, sponsored by the Kingdom of Bahrain, won by Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance; and the Group Two Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes, won by Inner City Blues, also owned by Godolphin.
“We have a very long and historic affiliation with Newmarket and this day in particular,” said Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) High Committee representative for international racing Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al Khalifa.
“It is something we are very proud of and it’s a meeting that we always love to attend.”
Point Of Law’s triumph marked the first time the Bahrain Trophy was claimed by a reigning monarch, and in doing so earned an automatic invite to the inaugural running of the Bahrain Long Distance Cup, set to be held as part of this year’s programme of the highly anticipated Group One Bahrain International Trophy on November 13 at REHC.
Shaikh Salman expressed his excitement for this year’s Bahrain International Trophy, which, along with its promotion to Group One, has increased its prize purse to $1.5million and will be held as part of REHC’s landmark 50th anniversary.
“We have two great reasons to celebrate today – we are celebrating 50 years since the establishment of the club and we are also celebrating the promotion of the Bahrain International Trophy to Group One,” said Shaikh Salman.
“It is just seven years since the first running of the Bahrain International Trophy and from that time on we have been getting positive feedback from owners and trainers regarding the timing of the race. I honestly believe every top-class mile-and-a-quarter horse in the world will consider targeting this race because the timing suits the racing calendar and consequently the race will attract even more interest.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank [Prime Minister’s Court Minister and REHC High Committee chairman] Shaikh Isa [bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa] for his vision because it is thanks to his direction we have managed to achieve this landmark moment.”
The 2026-27 REHC season will run from October to April of next year and it will feature 30 fixtures.
The Bahrain Long Distance Cup is a new race worth $400,000 and will be run over 2,800m (one mile and six furlongs).
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