International Opportunities - the key international races to target this autumn
/Article by Lissa Oliver
As we saw in our last issue, new and emerging racing nations can offer very lucrative targets as they attempt to establish themselves on the world stage. Outside of the European season there have never been as many valuable opportunities as currently on offer this coming autumn and winter, from both new and rapidly rising racing jurisdictions. North America also offers some lucrative opportunities throughout the year, with early-closers starting in May 2025.
North America
Breeders’ Cup
This year the Breeders’ Cup will be held in November at Del Mar and it hardly needs introduction. With 14 championship races held over two days, Future Stars Friday sees the two-year-old championships run for purses of €931,130 (£783,500) and €1.9m (£1.6m). Saturday boasts nine races, culminating with the €6.5m (£5.5m) Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The “win and you’re in” Challenge Series consists of 69 of the best races from around the world, from June to October, awarding each winner an automatic and free entry into the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Santa Anita
This year sees a new initiative creating links between prestige British races and valuable North American turf races. The ultimate aim is to build the international profile of all races in the partnership by increasing the number of runners travelling from the US to the UK, and vice-versa. Winners of two valuable contests in North America in the spring gain automatic entries for the Gr1 Eclipse and the Gr1 July Cup, while the Eclipse and July Cup winners gain automatic entry and travel incentives for two prestigious contests in North America in the autumn, the 2000m (10f) Gr2 California Crown John Henry Turf and the 1300m (6f) Gr2 California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint, each worth €696,634 (£587,848) and run at Santa Anita 28th September.
Matt Woolston, The Jockey Club’s Assistant Racing and International Director, points out, “By pairing two of the UK’s most famous and prestigious Group One contests in the summer with a quartet of valuable North American turf contests in the spring and autumn, we feel we have the perfect race schedule for transatlantic runners. In addition, British and other European trainers now have the chance of an incentivised trip to North America in the autumn for races at Santa Anita’s exciting new California Crown meeting. We feel we have highlighted a race schedule that incentivises runners to travel across the Atlantic.”
Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Downs is home to America's only European-style all turf racecourse and at 2000m (10f) in length it is one of the longest. It hosts just seven days each year, one of the most exclusive meetings in North America. From a VIP experience at the Finish Line to free tailgating and general admission on the final turn and stretch, Kentucky Downs provides a unique experience in an intimate atmosphere. The 2024 programme is 29th and 31st August, and 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th and 11th September, dates to mark in your diaries for 2025.
Headed by the €2.3m (£2m) Gr3 Nashville Derby (formerly the Dueling Grounds Derby) on 31st August, Kentucky Downs will stage six races worth at least €1.9m (£1.6m) apiece, including supplements for registered Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) horses that were foaled in the commonwealth and sired by a Kentucky stallion, with KTDF bonuses totalling €15m (£12.5m) over the seven-day meeting. The Nashville Derby is now the richest grass race in North America outside the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
“We want to build the Nashville Derby into a race that American and European horsemen alike point to and buy horses for,” says Ron Winchell, co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs with Marc Falcone. “The name change reflects our close proximity to one of America’s great cities, which we see as an added incentive for coming. Even horses that aren’t Kentucky-breds will still race for $1.5 million, and we’ve positioned the Nashville Derby so that it fits into a big-money circuit for three-year-old turf horses with Keeneland and Churchill Downs’ stakes, as well as the New York’s Belmont Derby, Saratoga Derby and Jockey Club Derby.”
The Kentucky Downs meet will have 11 races worth at least €931,000 (£784,000) with nine at graded status, including the track’s first Gr1, the €1.9m (£1.6m) Franklin-Simpson for three-year-old sprinters. The showcase 7th September card includes a quartet of €1.9m (£1.6m) races. Maiden races, already the richest in the world, have increased to €158,289 (£133,307) per race.
The meeting reflects Kentucky Downs’ commitment to becoming an international racing venue and has attracted European runners in recent years. Kentucky-bred and British-trained Ancient Rome won the €1.9m (£1.6m) Gr3 Mint Millions, and Irish-trained Reckoning Force won the €465,504 (£391,987) Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile, now with increased purse for 2024.
Colonial Downs
Virginia's premier racetrack is Colonial Downs, in New Kent, with two state-of-the-art racing surfaces. The 1800m (9f) Secretariat Turf Course is the widest turf track in North America and the dirt track is the country’s second largest. In August it hosts the Gr1 Arlington Million, 2000m (10f) turf, with a purse of €919,422 (£783,737).
Gary Palmisano Jr., Vice President, Racing, tells us, “Colonial Downs is widely regarded as one of America’s top turf courses and would be perfectly suited for European runners. The 1 1/8 mile oval is over 180 feet wide and plays as a very fair host to our three Internationally-renowned stakes races. We would be extremely excited and honoured to host European runners here in Virginia.”
Meetings are held every Thursday-Saturday from 11th July through to 7th September and entry fee for each of the stakes races, bar the Graded races, is €372 (£313). With stakes purses of €114,923 (£97,955), these include The Boston 1600m (8f) turf for three-year-olds, The Beverly D. Preview 1800m (9f) turf for fillies and mares three years and up, The Million Preview 1800m (9f) turf for three-year-olds and up, The Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes 1000m (5f) turf for two-year-olds, and the Kitten's Joy Stakes 1600m (8f) turf for two-year-olds.
On The Arlington Million card is the Gr2 The Secretariat, 1600m (8f) turf for three-year-olds and Gr2 The Beverly D. 1800m (9f) turf for fillies and mares three years and up, both worth €465,500 (£391,750). The season comes to a close in September with the same prize money up for grabs in Gr3 The New Kent County Virginia Derby, 1800m (9f) turf, and the €229,854 (£195,917) Listed Virginia Oaks, 1800m (9f) turf.
All owners who start a horse at Colonial Downs will receive the greater of €919 (£782) or their share of the purse money from the race, while all trainers will receive €280 (£235) per horse started on turf and €465 (£392) per horse started on the dirt.
Australia
At this stage we’re all familiar with the opportunities open to foreign runners at the Melbourne Cup Carnival and the Victoria Racing Club hosts 10 Gr1 race days during the 22-day season at Flemington.
The 3200m (16f) Gr1 Melbourne Cup is the highlight, offering €98,500 (£83,200) from sixth place down to 12th, with € 2.7m (£2,3m) going to the winner and an overall value of €5.3m (£4.4m). Later that same week are three €1.8m (£1.6m) weight-for-age Gr1s, the 2000m (10f) Champion Stakes, 1600m (8f) Champions Mile and the 1200m (6f) Champions Sprint.
“European trainers have had great success at the Melbourne Cup Carnival for more than 30 years, it is always a great thrill to host international connections who make the journey to Melbourne and race their horses at Flemington,” says Leigh Jordon, the VRC Executive General Manager.
A more recent attraction is the Sydney Everest Carnival, some 640km further along the coast, held at Royal Randwick Racecourse and Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, where owners can also enjoy exclusive and complimentary facilities.
The Sydney Everest Carnival opens 21st September and closes 9th November, boasting the world’s richest race on turf The Everest, 1200m (6f) €12.3m (£10.4m) in mid-October at Royal Randwick.
The opening day at Royal Randwick features two weight-for-age races, each with a total prize of €615,840 (£520,265) for three-year-olds up, The 7 Stakes 1600m (8f) and the Gr2 1100m (5f) Shorts. Randwick later hosts the iconic 1600m (8f) Epsom Handicap, a Gr1 worth €924,000 (£780,500) and on the Everest supporting card is the €3m (£2.6m) Gr1 King Charles III Stakes over 1600m (8f).
At Rosehill Gardens, the Hill Stakes over 2000m (10f), and 1800m (9f) Five Diamonds each carry a purse of €1.2m (£1m), but the showpiece in early November is the €6.2m (£5.2m) Golden Eagle over 1500m (7f).
“It’s pleasing to see continued strong nominations for three of our flagship races in the spring,’’ says James Ross, Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering. “The strength of nominations highlight the significance of two major WFA races over the Royal Randwick mile in the 7 Stakes and ultimately the $5 million King Charles III Stakes on Everest Day. With the additional investment from our partners Racing NSW, we attract some of the highest quality participation from Sydney, interstate and internationally.”
Japan
Although racing has been established in Japan since the 1870s, this year the JRA celebrates its 70th anniversary. “We hold a variety of races every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year,” says JRA President/CEO Masayoshi Yoshida. “Horsemen from around the world praise the generous prize money, including bonuses, the well-maintained tracks, and the new international stables at Tokyo Racecourse that allow horses to enter directly from the airport. In November we will hold the Japan Cup, the world’s best race in 2023, at the Tokyo Racecourse. We appreciate seeing the greatest horses and watching with our guests from various countries, and our own enthusiastic horseracing fans.”
The International Stable opened at Tokyo Racecourse in 2022 and each barn has a dedicated grass paddock, air-conditioning and remote monitoring system, with facilities for staff, and three training tracks. Horses can enter the stable directly from the airport for the quarantine period and remain there until the race itself, causing as minimal stress and disruption to their routine as possible.
The import quarantine period is a minimum of seven days, and arrival and departure date to and from the quarantine is included in that period. The export quarantine period of one day or less will be conducted at the racecourse, unless the importing country, such as Australia, requires a longer quarantine period.
There are also two quarantine bases in the east and west of Japan. Both have good access to the airport and racetracks, and are fully equipped with excellent training tracks and staff accommodation. The Horse Racing School is an hour’s drive from Narita International Airport, while Miki Horseland Park serves horses arriving from Kansai International Airport.
The JRA may offer travel incentives for particular overseas horses, taking into consideration factors such as the horse's international rating, for Group 1 races. For invited overseas horses for the Japan Cup, the JRA will provide air transport for the horse and two attendants (economy class), return business class air tickets for the owner, trainer, jockey, and their spouse/partner, and five nights’ accommodation at a JRA designated hotel.
All Japanese Group 1s are free to enter, or by free invitation, and carry the same declaration fee of €20,200 (£17,500). The 2400m (12f) Japan Cup is run at Tokyo on the last Sunday in November for a purse of €7.3m (£6.3m), €3.3m to the winner (£2.9m). It also carries additional bonuses of €92,000-€2.8m (£79,000-£2.4m) from last-placed finishers up to first, for the winners of 14 designated European Gr1 races, six North American and seven Australian, and the Dubai Sheema Classic.
In mid-November, the 2200m (11f) Queen Elizabeth II Cup for fillies and mares at Kyoto carries a purse of €1.9m (£1.6m), with bonuses from €163,000-€646,000 (£138,000-£553,000) available to the winners of nine designated European Gr1 fillies and mares races, and travel subsidies are also available.
Sandwiched between those two races is the Mile Championship at Kyoto, worth €2.7m (£2.3m), also with travel subsidies available. The bonuses for winners of seven designated European Gr1 mile races, and the Dubai Turf, Woodbine Mile and Hong Kong Champions Mile are from €163,000 up to €646,000 (£138,000-£553,000).
Run on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse, the 1800m (9f) Champions Cup has a total value of €1.7m (£1.5m) with additional bonuses to the winner of 11 designated USA Gr1s, and the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup of €163,000-€646,000 (£138,000-£553,000).
There are also travel subsidies available for international runners in Japan’s other valuable Gr1s, including the 1200m (6f) Takamatsunomiya Kinen on turf at Chukyo on the last Sunday of March, the 1200m (6f) Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama on the last Sunday of September, the 2000m (10f) Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo last Sunday in October, and the premier summer races, the 3200m (16f) Tenno Sho Spring at Kyoto last Sunday in April, 1600m (8f) Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo first Sunday in June, and the 2200m (11f) Takarazuka Kinen last Sunday in June at Kyoto.
Bahrain
The Bahrain Turf Series is now in its fifth year and runs from 8th December through to 6th March. Each race carries prizemoney from €73,750 (£62,850) up to €91,880 (£78,200) and this attractive series is designed to attract international competition and to raise the profile of horseracing in Bahrain, providing opportunities for internationally-trained runners rated 85-100 to compete against local Bahrain-based horses.
“Three years after its launch, we believe the time is right to build on the success of the Bahrain Turf Series and expand the international programme to incorporate our season’s premier races,” explains His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Bahrain Turf Club. “For the first time, our most prestigious races, including the Crown Prince’s Cup and the King’s Cup will fall within the Bahrain Turf Series calendar. This move, coupled with the new floodlights, provides more flexibility to the race programme, and is intended to make racing in Bahrain an even more attractive and compelling proposition for international visitors.”
As Hugo Palmer pointed out earlier this year, “The prize money in the series is excellent but consequently the races are competitive. With the right horse, you will have a lot of fun and the trip will be very worthwhile. This is the second time I have had runners in the Bahrain Turf Series and it’s clear that the Bahrain Turf Club is making giant strides. They are committed to improving everything from the training facilities to the race programme. My owners have absolutely loved it when they have gone to watch their horses run.”
In total, the series of sprint and middle-distance races comprises of 12 races, six in each division, an increase from last year, with each race carrying bonus prizes for the horses accumulating most points in their respective division.
On 8th December are the 1000m (5f) and 2000m (10f) races for horses rated 84-100. On 20th December are the 1000m (5f) and 2000m (10f) races for horses rated 84-100. 29th December sees the 1200m (6f) and 2000m (10f) races for those rated 80-100. On 12th January are two conditions races, over 1000m (5f) and 1800m (9f). Horses rated 80-100 have races on 2nd February over 1200m (6f) and 1800m (9f) and finally the series concludes 16th February, again for those rated 80-100, with a 1000m (5f) and 2000m (10f) offering.
The 2023/24 series attracted a record number of international runners, including horses from Hugo Palmer, John and Sean Quinn, and George Scott. The Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club has quarantine facilities for 50 horses, an equine pool and world class veterinary facilities provided by Baker McVeigh Veterinary Services.
“The racetrack has been in good condition throughout,” observed Sean Quinn. “Given the climate it must be hard to keep the turf track in such good nick, but the watering system is excellent.”
George Scott, who earlier this year sent out Bahrain’s first Triple Crown winner, concurs. “The facilities for the horses are excellent, the barns are great and the training tracks have got better and better, you can use the grass or the synthetics. It’s a great place to train. My staff have loved it; it has been a great experience for them. A really wonderful set up. Another plus is that there are options outside of the Bahrain Turf Series, you can run your horse in the domestic programme too. I thoroughly recommend everyone to come and try it.”
For those seeking black type, the 2000m (10f) Gr2 Bahrain International Trophy in November for three-year-olds and up is establishing Bahrain as a premier horseracing destination. Run on turf, the race is worth €921,858 (£785,315), with €553,115 (£471,178) to the winner.
Entries close 2nd October with supplementary entry stages later in October, but there are three 'Automatic Invitation' races, for the first, second and third from The Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes and the Gr3 Strensall Stakes at York. The Bahrain Turf Club will provide air tickets for overseas connections and hotel accommodation on a room only basis. Shipment of invited horses will be arranged and paid for by the Bahrain Turf Club.
