Electrocutionist wins the 2006 Group One Dubai World Cup
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Plans in the early 1990s to build a new racecourse in Dubai, capable of attracting the world's best racehorses, might have seemed ambitious but, as with so many of the Maktoum family's ground-breaking plans, this was no pipedream.
The Emirates Racing Authority was founded in 1990 and just six years later on the occasion of the first running of the world's richest race, the Dubai World Cup, a new track was unveiled at Nad Al Sheba.
The racecourse bore comparison with any modern sporting facility globally, and speaking to the Racing Post newspaper, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed said: "The Dubai World Cup is a challenge for horses, for people and for all of us here in Dubai.
"It is the challenge of testing the best with the best. We think that Dubai's position on the map makes it the ideal place to hold a contest involving different hemispheres, different continents."
"We are sure we can offer a welcome like nowhere else on the globe, for horses have always been part of our culture, and of course it was from Arabian stallions mated to English mares that the breed of thoroughbred first evolved. What a thought that each of these fine runners flown in for the Dubai World Cup traces right back to native horses from this part of the world."
After 14 superb years of racing, Nad Al Sheba hosted its final Dubai World Cup on dirt in 2009 and the racecourse was demolished shortly after Well Armed's victory to make way for Meydan, a stunning state of the art racecourse, the like of which the world has never seen before, that provides a fitting home for the world's richest horse race.
Named after the Arabic word meaning a place where people race and congregate, Meydan is far more than just a racecourse. The imposing 1.6 kilometre-long grandstand is the first in the world to incorporate a five-star hotel, while the 76 million square-foot complex also includes an IMAX cinema plus the Meydan Museum and Gallery.
Meydan's Tapeta and grass surfaces, as well as the amazing grandstand, were welcomed by all who raced on them for the first time in 2010. To celebrate the fantastic new racecourse, the Dubai World Cup was raised in value from US$6 million to US$10 million.
- The Group One Dubai World Cup takes place over 10 furlongs in late March each year in Dubai and is open to Northern Hemisphere bred four-year-olds and older and Southern Hemisphere bred three-year-olds and older. There is no richer race.
- There have been runners from 12 different countries.
- Five winners have been owned by Godolphin - Almutawakel, Dubai Millennium, Electrocutionist, Moon Ballad and Street Cry.
- Eight have been trained in the USA - Cigar, Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Pleasantly Perfect, Roses In May, Invasor, Curlin and Well Armed.
- Two Southern Hemisphere-bred horses have triumphed - Argentinian-bred Invasor in 2007 and the 2010 victor Gloria De Campeao, who was foaled in Brazil.
- Jerry Bailey has ridden four winners.