The U.S. Becomes a Global Hub for Horse Racing

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, chairman of Qatar Racing, one of the largest and most accomplished international horse-breeding operations, spends more time in the United States these days for a good reason: It’s where the money is.He is a regular at the August horse sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., as well as the Keeneland September sales in Lexington, Ky.And this weekend, he’s returning to the bluegrass for the 43rd running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, held at Keeneland Race Course and featuring 14 races offering more than $30 million in purse money.Sheikh Fahad is hardly alone.

Seventy-nine international horses were pre-entered for the World Championships in Lexington on Friday and Saturday.They were bred in nine countries and on six continents.The United States “has become the global center of horse racing,” said Sheikh Fahad, who runs Qatar Racing on behalf of his brothers, all members of Qatar’s ruling family.

“The spread of owners that will spend big money is bigger here than most places on earth.And the purse money, day to day, is the strongest in the world.”For decades, international horsemen rarely crossed one another’s borders.

The Japanese kept to their racetracks.The Australians stayed home.

The Irish and English blended a bit for big races, but didn’t travel far beyond their two countries.This was partly about tradition and partly about money — most purses were not worth the expense of shipping a horse overseas.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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