The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) has unveiled its 2025-26 horse racing season, which will be spread over 70 meetings across the Al Rayyan and Al Uqda racecourses.

The QREC, chaired by Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, finalised the schedule following a comprehensive review, incorporating feedback from owners and trainers and drawing on internal technical reports. 

This season, for the first time, HH The Amir Sword Festival will be extended to four consecutive days at the Al Rayyan Racecourse. While the first two days will be run on dirt, turf racing is scheduled for the final two days. For the first time, a total of 32 races will be staged across four days.

QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Al Kubaisi spoke about the upgraded HH The Amir Sword Festival.

“For the first time, the festival will run across four days – from February 11 to 14, 2026 – at Al Rayyan. The HH The Amir Trophy for Thoroughbreds and the HH 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 for Local Purebred Arabians rated 85-105over 1,700M, and the Sand Sprint Cup, a handicap for Thoroughbreds rated 85–105over 1,200M.”

The season will also see an increase in the number of overall meetings and races.

“The season will commence on October 15 and conclude on April 16, 2026. It will include 70 race meetings – 46 at Al Rayyan and 24 at Al Uqda – with a total of 547 races, up from 543 last season. Last season, we’d split and added races based on demand, and we may do that again 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 said.

“The highlight of the season will undoubtedly be HH The Amir Sword Festival, along with other key race days, including The Late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Trophy, Qatar Derby, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy and Qatar Gold Sword And Trophy,” Al Kubaisi said. 

As for horse categories included in the race 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."

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