Racing has become the latest sport to launch a world championships, boosted by a record $15 million sponsorship over three years.
The series, to be called the Emirates World Series Racing Championships, will be a nine-race event, beginning with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on July 24th, and reaching a climax with the world's richest race, the $5 million Dubai World Cup next March.
The Irish Horseracing Authority and the Irish Turf Club yesterday welcomed the inclusion of the Esat Digifone Champion Stakes (September 11th) in the series. Former Senior Steward Professor Michael MacCormac, who played a vital role in originating the series, said yesterday: "This puts Irish racing on the world stage."
Michael Osborne, chief executive of Emirates Racing, said: "Cricket, athletics, rugby, football, they all have world championships and it is time that racing promoted itself to a wider audience and gave itself a boost going into the millennium."
Emirates World Series Racing Championships dates: July 24th, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Ascot); September 11th, Esat Digifone Irish Champion Stakes (Leopardstown); October 17th, Canadian International (Toronto); October 23rd, Cox Plate (Melbourne); November 6th, Breeders Cup Turf (Miami, Florida); Breeders Cup Classic (Miami, Florida); November 28th, Japan Cup (Tokyo); December 12th, Hong Kong International Cup (Hong Kong); March 25th or 26th, Dubai World Cup (Dubai). To be added: 20002001 series: Grosser Preis von Baden (Germany) and Arlington Million (Chicago, Illinois). To be decided: Arc de Triomphe (Paris).
