World Cup Day Purses Hiked to $15.25 Million

The Dubai World Cup Committee has announced that its 2001 meet, to be staged at Nad Al Sheba March 24, will be worth $15.25 million, up from $12 million this year. The program will be highlighted by the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).

The lastest purses to be hiked are for the Godolphin Mile (UAE-III), from $250,000 to $1 million, and for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-III), from $1 million to $2 million. The purse for the UAE Derby previously was hiked from $500,000 to $2 million.

"The Dubai World Cup is the benchmark for international racing, and we have simply raised the bar by increasing the international lure for all races on the program," Dubai World Cup Committee chairman Les Benton said. "Nowhere else would you find a meeting that already has the richest race in the world, supported by the richest Derby ever run."

Benton said the fact a purse hike this year helped lure 55 international runners led the committee to increase purses even more.