The final afternoon of the year will arrive with purpose at Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) on December 31, where Wednesday’s card will bring the 2025 season to a close under the lights of Al Uqda. The 30th Al Uqda Race Meeting – End Of Year Cup will unfold across seven races, blending developing talent with seasoned campaigners, before attention settles on Race 7, the End Of Year Cup – Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate, offering a prize of 100,000 QAR and the distinction of closing the year’s racing narrative.
Proceedings will begin at 3:30 pm with Race 1, the Purebred Arabian Handicap 45–65, a Class 6 contest over 1200 metres carrying a prize of 45,000 QAR. Thirteen runners will set the early tempo, with consistency and gate speed expected to play a defining role in shaping the afternoon’s rhythm.
At 4:05 pm, Race 2 will see another 45,000 QAR on offer in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, also a Class 6 event over 1200 metres. With thirteen runners declared, the focus will fall on emerging talent as several runners look to take a decisive step forward before the season closes.
The pace will sharpen at 4:40 pm for Race 3, the Thoroughbred Handicap 0–70, a Class 5 Qatari Riders Race over 1200 metres with 50,000 QAR at stake. Fourteen runners will contest a competitive sprint where rider judgement and tactical timing are likely to prove decisive.
Distance will come into play at 5:15 pm with Race 4, the Locl Thoroughbred Handicap 0–55, a Class 5 event over 2000 metres offering 45,000 QAR. Twelve runners will test stamina and balance as the card begins its measured build toward the feature contests.
Quality will rise among the Arabians at 5:50 pm with Race 5, the Purebred Arabian Handicap 65–85, a Class 4 race over 2200 metres carrying a prize of 55,000 QAR. Ten runners will face a searching examination of endurance and class, marking this as a key middle-distance contest on the card.
Speed and depth will return at 6:25 pm for Race 6, the Thoroughbred Handicap 60–80, another Class 4 event over 1300 metres, also worth 55,000 QAR. Fourteen runners will ensure a strongly run race, sharpening focus ahead of the finale.
The spotlight will fall firmly at 7:00 pm with Race 7, the End Of Year Cup – Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate, the final and defining contest of the meeting. Fourteen runners will line up over 1300 metres in this Class 4 feature, where ambition, form, and timing will converge. More than the 100,000 QAR prize, the race will offer a moment of conclusion, a last opportunity for connections to sign off the season with authority and carry momentum into the year ahead.
Contenders: Al Wasmi, Azzam FBR, Chakib, Galeb Al Shahania, Muqtarib, Fathi, Jalila Alghania, Kab Ghazal, Nafees Al Shahania, Nah’aab Al Shahania, Taimoor, Al Masdar, Messera Al Shahania, Windsor
As the lights dim at Al Uqda, the End Of Year Cup will deliver more than a result. Qatar Racecards 31 December will provide a closing signature to the year, defined by competition, progression, and a clear look toward what comes next.
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