The Dubai World Cup will take place on April 5 this year, a week later than usual. This change is mainly due to Ramadan, which ends with Eid al-Fitr expected on March 30.
With Meydan Racecourse hosting its biggest event later than usual and the Grand National taking place three weeks after Cheltenham instead of four, broadcasters have had to adjust to accommodate both major races on the same day.
In the U.S., the new Dubai World Cup (G1) date will now coincide with three major Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races, making it a packed day for horse racing.
Erwan Charpy, a former UAE champion trainer and now Dubai Racing Club’s racing operations manager, has worked to ensure that Meydan’s schedule does not directly clash with the Grand National.
To avoid conflicts, the Grand National is set for 4 p.m. British Summer Time, while Meydan has scheduled the Golden Shaheen (G1) for 3:40 p.m. and the Dubai Turf (G1T) for 4:15 p.m.
There isn’t enough time to show the Aintree races on the big screen at Meydan because the $5 million Turf race, featuring Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior, will take place at the same time.
Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and its distribution partner, HBA Media, manage the global TV coverage for both Aintree and the Dubai World Cup. RMG is offering international broadcasters different options: a full feed from Aintree, a full feed from Meydan, or a special 2.5-hour “best of both worlds” program, which has gained a lot of interest.
“With both major races happening within 90 minutes of each other on April 5, it’s a great chance for fans worldwide to experience two exciting but very different racing events,” said RMG’s communications director, Seb Vance.
“We’re giving broadcasters multiple choices—ITV’s full Aintree feed, RMG’s full Meydan feed, or a condensed program covering the Grand National, Dubai World Cup, and Dubai Sheema Classic from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. BST.”
According to Vance, the dual broadcast idea has been a hit, with over 30 broadcasters covering both events. Half of them have chosen the “best of both” feed, including Sport 24 (which airs on airlines and cruise ships), Fancode (with 160 million users in India), ESPN (Latin America and the Caribbean), SportsNet (Canada), SuperSport (Africa), and Viaplay (Europe).
Additionally, Dubai Racing Channel and Dubai Sports will provide full coverage of Meydan and Aintree, while Fox Sports in the U.S. will air Dubai live and Aintree as a recorded event. CNN International and Trans World Sport will feature highlights from both races. Japan’s Green Channel will broadcast Dubai’s races and film a documentary on the Grand National at Aintree.
Previously, the Dubai World Cup’s usual timing created scheduling conflicts for U.S. trainers and jockeys with races like the Florida Derby. This year, on April 5, there will also be three key Kentucky Derby prep races: the Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, and Wood Memorial Stakes, each offering a guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Derby for the winners.
