As the sun begins its gentle descent over the capital, Abu Dhabi Turf Club will be poised to host a compelling Race Day on Saturday, 20 December, 2025, promising an evening where tradition, ambition and competition will meet on the turf. The spotlight will firmly rest on the Abu Dhabi Championship, the feature second race on the card, carrying a substantial AED 180,000 in prize money and set to unfold over 1600 metres at 18:00, a contest expected to define the tone of an absorbing seven-race programme.
The action will commence at 17:30 with Race 1, the Winter Pearl Maiden, a 1600m contest offering AED 66,000 in prize money. This opening race will set the early rhythm of the evening, as emerging talent is expected to take its first meaningful steps under race-day pressure, with connections eager to make an immediate impression.
Attention will then turn sharply to the centrepiece of the meeting at 18:00, when the Abu Dhabi Championship takes place as Race 2. Run over 1600m and boasting the night’s richest purse of AED 180,000, this championship event will stand as the defining moment of the card, where prestige and prize money will raise both expectations and intensity on the track.
Momentum will continue to build at 18:30 with Race 3, the Crown of the Turf Handicap, another 1600m contest carrying AED 66,000 in total prize money. This race is set to test balance and tactical judgement, as the handicap format is likely to bring several runners into contention deep into the stretch.
Stamina will come to the fore at 19:00 with Race 4, the Wathba Stallions Cup (For Private Owners). Run over a testing 2400m distance and worth AED 70,000, this race will place endurance firmly under the spotlight, rewarding patience and strength as the field tackles one of the longest trips of the evening.
The programme will then shift gears at 19:30 for Race 5, the Blizzard of Liwa Maiden, contested over 2200m with AED 66,000 on offer. As a maiden event at a staying distance, this race is expected to reveal which runners are ready to rise beyond promise and into proven performance.
That staying theme will continue at 20:00 with Race 6, the Sands of Time Gallop, also staged over 2200m and carrying AED 66,000 in prize money. By this stage of the evening, resilience and racecraft will be decisive, as fatigue begins to play its part under the Abu Dhabi lights.
The meeting will conclude at 20:30 with a burst of speed in Race 7, the Desert Lightning Sprint. Run over a sharp 1200m and offering AED 66,000, the finale is set to deliver a fast and dramatic conclusion, where early pace and precise timing will determine the final winner of the night.
From the prestige of the Abu Dhabi Championship to the closing thrill of the Desert Lightning Sprint, Saturday’s Races at Abu Dhabi Turf Club will unfold as a carefully balanced blend of speed, stamina and spectacle, ensuring an evening of racing that promises to linger long after the final stride is taken.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.