Al Rayyan and Al Uqda racecourses will host the races during the extensive calendar.
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC), chaired by Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, has unveiled its horse racing programme for the 2025–26 season, which will feature an extensive calendar of 70 meetings across Al Rayyan and Al Uqda racecourses.
The season’s schedule has been finalised following a comprehensive review, incorporating feedback from owners and trainers and drawing on the QREC’s internal technical reports.
This season will introduce several firsts for QREC, most notably the expansion of the H H The Amir Sword Festival to four consecutive days at Al Rayyan Racecourse.
The first two days will be run on dirt, with turf racing scheduled for the final two days. Across the four-day event, a total of 32 races will be staged – an unprecedented format. The season will also see an increase in the number of meetings and races overall.
Commenting on the new season’s programme, QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Al-Kubaisi (pictured), stated: “The season will commence on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, and conclude on Thursday, 16 April 2026. It includes 70 race meetings – 46 at Al Rayyan and 24 at Al Uqda – with a total of 547 races, up from originally 543 last season, which eventually rose to 556 last term after splitting and adding races based on demand and we may do the same again this season to ensure opportunities are available across all horse categories.”
“We’ll open the season with the Al Ghariyah Cup at Al Rayyan and close it at the same venue with the End Of Season Cup,” he added.
“The highlight of the season will undoubtedly be the H H The Amir Sword Festival, along with other key race days, including The Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Thani Trophy, Qatar Derby, H H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy, H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy and Qatar Gold Sword And Trophy,” Al-Kubaisi commented.
He highlighted major changes to the H H The Amir Sword Festival.
“For the first time, the festival will run across four days – from 11 to 14 February 2026 – at Al Rayyan. The H H The Amir Trophy for Thoroughbreds and the H H The Amir Sword for Purebred Arabians will headline the final day’s card as the third and fourth races. New races have also been introduced to the festival," he said.
"On the final day, the Qatar International Thoroughbred Handicap Cup for horses rated 90–110 will be run over 2,400m and open to international runners. On Day Two, two new races will be staged. These are The Middle Distance Cup, a handicap forLocal Purebred Arabians rated 85-105over 1,700m, and the Sand Sprint Cup, a handicap for Thoroughbreds rated 85–105over 1,200m."
Categories of runners
As for horse categories included in the programme, Al-Kubaisi noted: “Races will be open to imported and local Purebred Arabians aged three and up and Thoroughbreds, both imported and local bred, aged two and up. The programme accommodates a wide range of classifications, from newcomers to seasoned champions with outstanding local and international records.”
“QREC will also continue to support Qatari jockeys in line with its long-term strategy to nurture local riding talent and prepare them to compete at the highest level. Our riders are currently attending a two-month training course at the South African Jockey Academy."
