The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles; 2410 metres since 2010) on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse , Dubai , and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in March.
6-613: The race was first run in 1998, and it was initially titled the Dubai Turf Classic . The present name was introduced two years later. The event attained Group 1 status in 2002. Prior to 2010 it was run at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse . The Dubai Sheema Classic currently offers a purse of US$ 6 million making it and the Dubai Turf race the two of the most valuable turf races in the world. Speed record: (at current distance of 2,410 metres and Meydan Racecourse) Most wins by
12-621: A jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Most wins by an owner: Nad Al Sheba Racecourse Nad Al Sheba Racecourse was Thoroughbred horse racing facility in Dubai , United Arab Emirates opened in 1986. It had a 2,200 m left-handed dirt race track and a left-handed turf course of the same distance. It operated from November through March and featured the Dubai International Racing Carnival and its Dubai World Cup Night . Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
18-608: The Dubai Racing Club hosted the inaugural Dubai International Jockeys Challenge at Nad Al Sheba. In 1996, the Dubai World Cup was created with the horses competing for a prize of $ 4million. This was a significant prize purse for the era. The first Dubai World Cup was won by Cigar . Today the race day is worth a total prize purse in excess of $ 30million. In 2000, the Godolphin owned Dubai Millennium won
24-567: The world cup race with a record time of 1.59.50. In 2001, the Millennium Grandstand was opened. In 2007, it was announced that Meydan Racecourse would replace Nad Al Sheba. For the following two years, the new grandstands were visible under construction. Following the 2009 Dubai World Cup, Nad Al Sheba racecourse was demolished and now sits as part of the Meydan Racecourse facility. The last winner at Nad Al Sheba
30-605: Was Well Armed . At the time of closure, the following records were held: Nad Al Sheba featured a golf club, which was designed in 1993 by Karl Litten. It was an 18 hole links style course, 6503 yards in length and had a par of 71. The copurse was closed in May 2007 to make way for the Meydan Racecourse development. At the time it had around 1200 members. Two major concerts took place at Nad Al Sheba. On February 14, 2004 Whitney Houston performed as part of her Prior to Soul Divas Tour. In April 2006, Robbie Williams performed
36-538: Was demolished in 2009 following hosting the Dubai World Cup race, being replaced by Meydan Racecourse . Horse racing began in Dubai as early as 1981, and in 1986 Nad Al Sheba Racecourse was formally opened. The course also featured a golf course in the centre. In 1992, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum formed the Dubai Racing Club to increase the popularity of the sport in the city, and later in 1993
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