Dubai, UAE, 24 January 2012 – The Group 2 Al Rashidiya will serve as the highlight of the sixth Dubai World Cup Carnival racemeeting this Thursday, and will be sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, a pillar partner of the Meydan Group.

Post time is 6:30 pm for the racing programme that will feature six races and serve as the sixth of the Dubai World Cup Carnival’s scheduled 16-race days.

The Al Rashidiya is run over 1,800m on the turf for southern-hemisphere bred three-year-olds and older and northern hemisphere bred four-year-olds and older – the same conditions as the Group One Dubai Duty Free race held on Dubai World Cup night, also sponsored Dubai Duty Free.

Meydan’s Chairman of the Board and CEO Saeed H. Al Tayer said: “Since the first running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996, Dubai Duty Free has been a great supporter of racing in Dubai. As racing and equestrian sports have grown in Dubai, so has the commitment of Dubai Duty Free. They now serve as a pillar partner and lend their invaluable support to all of Meydan’s equine pursuits. We thank them and welcome their sponsorship of Thursday’s racing programme.”

Dubai Duty Free’s Executive Vice Chairman, Colm McLoughlin added: “Horseracing plays an important part in Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship portfolio and as one of the founding sponsors of Dubai World Cup, we are proud to be part of the Dubai World Cup Carnival. This international event taking place on 26th January proves to be a highly successful platform for the global promotion of Dubai and its world-class sporting, leisure and business facilities. We are also proud to be sponsoring six (6) races on the day and we are looking forward to great day of racing on the 31st March for the Dubai World Cup where the operation is sponsoring the US$5 million Group One Dubai Duty Free race”.