Dubai‘s most glitzy event, the Dubai World Cup, has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The annual horse race was scheduled to take place at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday March 28, but it has been postponed to next year.
This joins a long list of events worldover that have been affected by the pandemic that’s shaken the world.
The main race is a Group 1 flat race of 2km run on a dirt track and has been won by Maktoum’s own Godolphin stable with Irish horse Thunder Snow mounted by the great Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon in the last two seasons.
Original plans for the Dubai World Cup included going ahead with the race without any spectators or hospitality offerings.
The Dubai Racing Club said in a statement: “Further to the UAE Government’s precautionary measures against the virus, we believe it is our duty to help protect the well-being of residents and guests. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the stakeholders of the Dubai World Cup, and we hope to welcome all participants and guests next year.”
To safeguard the health of all participants, the higher organising committee of the Dubai World Cup 2020 has decided to postpone 25th edition of the global tournament to next year. pic.twitter.com/hwHfBILqfj
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 22, 2020
As of Wednesday March 11, over 14,000 deaths from the virus have been reported worldwide, with more than 339,036 people infected.
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