Today a new chapter in history was set for the UAE and the sport of horseracing with the culmination of the 7th Dubai International Racing Carnival and the first Dubai World Cup to be held at Meydan which was attended by 60,000 spectators.
Jockey Tiago Pereira and Gloria de Campeao made history winning the Dubai World Cup by a whisker which saw the winner decided by an extremely close photo finish. The winning horse was trained by Pascal Bary and is owned by Estrela Energia Stables.
The Dubai World cup at Meydan was one of the most anticipated launches and events for the UAE social and sporting calendar. The day’s events included some of the world’s best known names in horseracing with the landmark event inaugurating the official opening of Meydan. Meydan in Dubai has begun a new era in horseracing which now boasts the world’s largest integrated racing facility.
Throughout the day, performances across all entrances and Apron Views at Meydan took place, with acts ranging from music and dance performances to fire and light shows. Performances for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan included a magnificent opening ceremony for the Dubai World Cup race which featured bubble dancers, stilt walkers, caricaturists, light cube shows, human and adagio statues, unicyclists, Arabic fusion bands, jazz quartets, flamenco guitarists, breakdancers, comedy acts, fire shows, a police band, magicians, and belly dancers.
Dubai World Cup Ceremony
One of the highlights of the evening was the commencement of the Dubai World Cup opening ceremony spectacular themed around “The Vision of Meydan” which included a truly magnificent fireworks display above the racetrack at Meydan. Also featured at the Meydan racetrack was what is possibly the largest moving projected image screen in the world at 6,725 square metres across 15 projection wings that took audiences through a myriad of elements ranging from the cultural to the historical and the emotional, including the greatest moments of the past 14 Dubai World Cups.
Other key points of the ceremony included equine and falcon performances, micro light and aerial displays, as well as a breathtaking pyrotechnic display by the world renowned The Gruccis of New York which are widely recognised as the leading pyrotechnics and fireworks company in the world.
The highlight of the evening was without doubt the Dubai World Cup race which was last on the cards and featured 14 of the world’s top thoroughbreds vying to be crowned the first-ever Dubai World Cup champion at Meydan and to pick up a world record winning purse in horseracing of US$10 million.
Capping off the historic event, spectators at the 15th Dubai World Cup were treated to a double headliner concert by Sir Elton John and Carlos Santana.