In a landmark announcement made during a press conference at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in late October, Jebel Ali Racecourse unveiled a substantial 20% increase in prize money, alongside the launch of an ambitious new bonus scheme designed to boost participation and reward success on the track.
The event, just prior to the Jebel Ali season opener on November 1st was attended by members of the media, trainers, owners, key stakeholders, and racing administrators, all eager to hear the details of the progressive new initiative.
Under the new structure, Jebel Ali Racecourse has introduced the Daaeemm Bonus Scheme, a forward thinking incentive program particularly designed to encourage the participation of two year olds, three year olds, and maiden horses. The scheme includes a minimum AED 100,000 bonus, creating a powerful incentive for connections to race their horses at Jebel Ali. Additionally, Maiden Thoroughbred races at Jebel Ali will now offer AED 72,000 in prize money.
“Our aim is to reward those who race their horses here at Jebel Ali and to encourage more young horses to get up and running early in their careers,” said CEO Mohammed Ahmed, who was congratulated for spearheading this initiative. “It’s an opportunity to give back to racing and invest in its future.”
The Daaeemm Bonus distribution will be as follows:
- 75% to the owner
- 10% to the trainer
- 10% to the jockey
- 5% to the stable staff
The bonus scheme has already been implemented from the first meeting of the season, with the winner of the Umm Suqeim Stakes, Itsatenfromlen, trained by Doug Watson, gaining eligibility for future invitations and added opportunities later in the season.
In a bid to attract a wider audience and create a more dynamic race day experience, the racecourse also announced the introduction of “Concept Days” - themed events designed to engage new fans and integrate racing with other popular sports and cultural experiences.
A well supported second meeting on November 15th saw the theme “Horse and Horsepower”, in a day that united two similar, yet different speeds.
The club’s next raceday is set for 29th November, coinciding with the long weekend celebrating Eid Al Etihad and the 54th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates.
Students can also mark their calendars for 13th December, when the track hosts “Students and Universities Day.” And, as always, everyone, studying or not, is welcome to join the festivities.
And for the Club’s final meeting of 2025, Jebel Ali will host a “Christmas and New Year” themed raceday on December 27th, with all the trimmings.