Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Celebrates Exceptional Season and Honours Leading Owners, Trainers and Jockeys
Mdmar – Doha – QNA
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) held its annual awards ceremony on Monday evening, honouring the leading owners, trainers, jockeys and horses of the 2025–2026 racing season, based on prize money earned and ranking points.
The ceremony also recognised sponsoring companies and various media organisations that contributed to the success of the previous season. The event was attended by Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
Speaking at the ceremony, Al Attiyah stressed that the club’s annual celebration was not merely an occasion to mark the conclusion of another exceptional chapter in the history of Qatari horse racing, but also an opportunity to highlight those who played the greatest roles in achieving its successes, including owners, trainers, jockeys and, of course, the outstanding horses.
He described the 2025–2026 racing season as exceptional by every measure, featuring breathtaking competition, record-breaking achievements and performances of the highest calibre, further strengthening Qatar’s position among the world’s leading horse racing nations.
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Al Attiyah noted that international recognition had crowned this continuous progress, following confirmation by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) of the upgrade of the HH The Amir Trophy from Group 2 to Group 1 status.
He explained that this historic achievement reflected the continued development of Qatar’s premier Thoroughbred contest and the HH The Amir Sword Festival as a whole, representing international recognition of the excellence of racing at Al Rayyan Racecourse.
He added that the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup had also been upgraded to Group 3 status, while the Dukhan Sprint Cup and Al Rayyan Mile Cup had been granted international Listed status, further demonstrating the strength of QREC’s racing programme.
Al Attiyah emphasised that these achievements were no coincidence, but rather the result of tireless work beginning at the earliest hours of each day, combined with strategic planning, rigorous training and a deep-rooted connection with horses.
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He also highlighted that these successes reflected the wise vision of Qatar’s leadership and its unlimited support for Qatari sport in general, and equestrian sport and horse racing in particular.
Concluding his remarks, Al Attiyah thanked the club’s staff, sponsors and the entire Qatari racing community for their contributions to a memorable season.
He congratulated all award winners and honourees, whose achievements had raised standards of performance and ambition, expressing optimism for further progress and success in the new season.
Important Developments and Record Participation
For his part, Ahmad Amanallah Al Shaibani, QREC Deputy CEO and Director of Support Services, said the 2025–2026 season represented an important step forward in the development of horse racing in Qatar.
He explained that the domestic racing programme had been prepared in consultation and coordination with local owners and trainers to provide suitable opportunities for Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred horses across various categories and competitive levels.
Among the season’s most significant developments was the introduction of Purebred Arabian horse beauty competitions for the first time.
The initiative attracted considerable interest, with numerous classes held throughout the season, helping broaden participation in the club’s racing programme.
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Al Shaibani also highlighted the launch of the Stars and Rewards System for local trainers and jockeys, a new initiative designed to recognise and reward their achievements throughout the season.
Under the programme, participants receive silver or gold stars according to the number of victories they achieve, allowing them to select specific races in which they can compete for additional prize money.
He said the initiative reflected QREC’s commitment to recognising hard work, encouraging competition and rewarding outstanding performances.
Season Statistics Reflect Remarkable Growth
Al Shaibani revealed that the previous season’s figures demonstrated the scale of the club’s activities and its continued progress.
A total of 1,133 horses participated in the racing programme, comprising 504 Purebred Arabians, 604 Thoroughbreds and 25 Purebred Arabian show horses.
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The season featured 582 races, offering total prize money of QAR 87,456,750.
Participation included 321 registered owners, 67 registered trainers and 38 registered jockeys, including apprentice riders.
One of the season’s major highlights was the historic expansion of the HH The Amir Sword Festival, which was staged over four consecutive days for the first time, from February 11 to 14, 2026.
The festival featured a record 32 races, with the opening two days dedicated to dirt racing and the final two days to turf racing.
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This expansion created greater opportunities for horses, owners, trainers and jockeys while further enhancing the festival’s international standing.
Al Shaibani noted that, in addition to the HH The Amir Sword Festival, the racing calendar included several other prestigious events, including the HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Trophy, Qatar Oaks, Qatar International Derby, and Qatar Gold Trophy and Sword.
Wathnan Racing Tops the Owners’ Standings
Based on prize money earned, Wathnan Racing secured first place among the leading owners, while Al Wasmiyah Farm topped the standings for private Qatari owners.
Trainer Alban de Mieulle claimed the overall leading trainer title after overseeing Wathnan Racing’s impressive series of victories during the season.
Meanwhile, Hamad Ahmed Al Malki Al Jahni finished first among Qatari trainers.
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Pierre-Charles Boudot was crowned the season’s leading jockey, while Faleh Nasser Bughenaim took the title of leading Qatari jockey.
Among Qatari apprentice jockeys, Salem Fahad Al Hajri topped the standings as the leading emerging talent.
Leading Purebred Arabian Horses
In the standings for horses earning the highest prize money in their respective categories, Lebo de Carrere, owned by Wathnan Racing, claimed the title of leading Purebred Arabian horse.
The mare Shadya, also representing Wathnan Racing, topped the Purebred Arabian mares’ category.
Al Harith, owned by Al Wasmiyah Farm, was named the leading four-year-old Purebred Arabian colt, while Jina, representing Dukhan Racing, secured the leading four-year-old Purebred Arabian filly title.
In the locally bred Purebred Arabian category, Zahran Al Shahania, owned by North Racing, topped the horses’ standings.
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Wathnan Racing’s Razyka claimed the leading locally bred Purebred Arabian mare title.
Hayir Al Shahania, owned by Mansour bin Misfer Al Shahwani, led the locally bred four-year-old Purebred Arabian colts’ standings.
Meanwhile, Grace Secret, owned by Umm Al Shukhut Farm, claimed the leading locally bred four-year-old Purebred Arabian filly title.
Leading Thoroughbred Horses
In the Thoroughbred divisions, Make Me King, owned by Wathnan Racing, secured first place as the leading Thoroughbred horse.
The mare Warming, owned by Khalid Ghanem Mohammed Rabiah Al Kuwari, topped the Thoroughbred mares’ standings.
Basalt, owned by HE Mansour bin Ibrahim bin Saad Al Mahmoud, was named the leading four-year-old Thoroughbred colt.
Bint Mahather, representing Al Jeryan, secured the leading four-year-old Thoroughbred filly title.
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In the three-year-old categories, August George, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, claimed the leading colt title.
Rose of Spin, owned by Osama Omar Ismail Al Dafea, finished first among three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies.
Meanwhile, Al Faisal, representing Al Emadi Racing, secured the leading locally bred Thoroughbred horse title.
Wathnan Racing also dominated several locally bred Thoroughbred categories.
The mare Doha Bu Thaila topped the locally bred Thoroughbred mares’ standings, while Best Way secured the leading locally bred four-year-old Thoroughbred colt title.
Finally, Wathnan Racing’s War Lady claimed the leading locally bred four-year-old Thoroughbred filly title, completing another outstanding season for the powerful racing operation.
QREC’s annual celebration highlighted the remarkable achievements of Qatar’s racing industry, with Wathnan Racing emerging as one of the season’s most successful operations and contributing significantly to the country’s continued progress on the international racing stage.
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The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
