Al Maktoum Challenge (thoroughbreds)

The Al Maktoum Challenge, is a horse race run over a distance of 1,900 metres (approximately one and three-sixteenth miles) on dirt in late January at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The event was known as Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 3 and was the third of three races in the Al Maktoum Challenge series which serve as trial races for the Dubai World Cup but was renamed in 2024

It was first run in 1994 on dirt at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. It was transferred to Meydan in 2010 where it was run on the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface. In 2015 the synthetic surface at Meydan was replaced by a dirt track.^[1]

The race was originally run over 2,400 metres before he current distance was established in 1996.

The race began as an ungraded stakes race before attaining Listed status in 1996. The race was elevated to Group 3 level in 2000 and became a Group 2 event in 2002. The race became a Group 1 event in 2012.

The distance of the event was decreased from 2,000 metres to 1,900 metres in 2024. The three race challenge series was moved for Arabian horses and the event was rebranded as the Al Maktoum Challenge.^[2]

Record time:

• 1:59.60 - Dubai Millennium (2000)

Most wins by a horse:

• 2 - Salute The Soldier (2021, 2023)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 7 - Frankie Dettori (1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 11 - Saeed bin Suroor (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Most wins by an owner:

• 8 - Godolphin Racing (1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015)

• List of United Arab Emirates horse races

• Racing Post:
  • 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
  • 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • 2024