Dubai, December 24, 2024 – The Europe Today: The Dubai Racing Club has announced an exciting new partnership with Churchill Downs, the iconic venue of the Kentucky Derby. As part of this collaboration, Churchill Downs will sponsor the AED300,000 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, scheduled to take place on Friday, 3rd January 2024.
This prestigious race was previously won by the US-bred Ma Yetal, trained by Michael Costa.
Erwan Charpy, Manager of Racing Operations and International Relations at Dubai Racing Club, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are constantly inspired by our leaders to set the bar higher, and in working with international partners such as Churchill Downs, we are enhancing racing’s profile on the global stage. We are fortunate that, thanks to the UAE Derby’s inclusion on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, we have already enjoyed a strong relationship with Churchill Downs, and this is the next step.”
Gary Palmisano, Vice President of Racing for Churchill Downs Incorporated, shared his thoughts on the collaboration, saying, “Churchill Downs is thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with the Dubai Racing Club through the Kentucky Derby’s sponsorship of this prestigious race. We hope to see the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial winner competing in the UAE Derby and ultimately earning a spot in the starting gate of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby next May.”
This partnership underscores the global connections between two leading institutions in the world of horse racing and their shared commitment to advancing the sport.
