The Bahrain Turf Club will open the New Year with a spectacular display of equestrian excellence on Thursday, 2 January 2026, promising a day filled with anticipation, speed, and thrilling finishes. Racing enthusiasts from around the globe will flock to the track, eager to witness top-tier thoroughbreds competing for glory and substantial prize money. The day’s spotlight will shine brightly on the feature events—the Bahrain Turf Series AL RIFFA CUP and the AL DANA CUP Sponsored by Al Salam Bank—each offering a lucrative USD 80,000 purse, setting the stage for exhilarating contests that will define the season’s opening.
The racing program will kick off at 4:00 pm with Race 1, a 1200-meter sprint carrying a prize of USD 8,000. This opening race is expected to set the tone for the day, with emerging talent and seasoned horses vying to make an early impression. Race 2, scheduled for 4:30 pm over 2200 meters with an identical purse, will test stamina and strategy, offering a glimpse of horses that may dominate longer distances.
The excitement will continue with the Bahrain Bourse Cup at 5:00 pm, covering 2000 meters and featuring a prize of USD 8,000. This contest will highlight horses capable of combining endurance with tactical speed, while the Charles Russell Speechlys Cup, following at 5:30 pm over 1000 meters, will provide a rapid, action-packed sprint for spectators to enjoy. Race 5 at 6:00 pm, another 1000-meter dash with USD 8,000 at stake, promises to keep the pace electric as jockeys and trainers fine-tune their strategies for the day’s feature events.
As the evening approaches, stakes rise dramatically. The Southern Governorate Cup, scheduled for 6:30 pm over 1400 meters and carrying a USD 25,000 purse, will showcase some of the most formidable contenders, setting the stage for what promises to be a spectacular climax.
The first highlight of the day, the Bahrain Turf Series AL RIFFA CUP, will take place at 7:00 pm over 1200 meters. With USD 80,000 in prize money on the line, the race will attract top horses and elite jockeys, promising a spectacle of speed, skill, and strategy. Immediately following at 7:40 pm, the AL DANA CUP Sponsored by Al Salam Bank, covering 1800 meters with an identical purse, will bring the evening to a thrilling conclusion. Both feature races are expected to deliver heart-stopping finishes, as the finest thoroughbreds compete for top honors.
Fans can anticipate a day that blends the elegance of tradition with the adrenaline of modern racing. From the opening sprint to the climactic feature races, Bahrain Turf Club is set to deliver a race day brimming with passion, precision, and unforgettable moments. International participants and local contenders alike will showcase the finest in thoroughbred racing, making 2 January 2026 a day that spectators will remember for years to come.
The Bahrain racecards 2 January provide full insight into the day’s thrilling contests. For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.