Qatar extends sponsorship of Glorious Goodwood

Goodwood Racecourse’s five-day Glorious Goodwood horse racing meeting will continue to be officially known as the Qatar Goodwood Festival, thanks to a new multi-year partnership.

The new agreement is a described as a renewal, despite the main sponsor changing from the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club to the Visit Qatar, the country’s official tourism board.

According to the racecourse, the previous agreement with the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, signed in 2015, remains the single biggest sponsorship agreement in British horseracing.

The new partnership will ensure the continuation of the Qatar International Stakes, a £400,000 race for purebred Arabian horses, which was established during the first edition of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and makes up one part of the Doha Triple Crown.

The 2024 edition of the race, ran yesterday (31st July), was won by Al Ghadeer, ridden by Christophe Soumillon and trained by Francois Rohaut.

The Duke of Richmond (pictured left), Chairman of Goodwood Racecourse, said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club for their enormous contribution to the Qatar Goodwood Festival and to British horseracing. We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Visit Qatar and we are very much looking forward to working with them to continue to take our iconic raceweek to a new level.”

His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji (picture right), Chair of Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, added, “Building on the legacy of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, we are pleased to announce the renewal of a multi-year partnership with Goodwood Racecourse. This milestone reflects our dedication to continue showcasing Qatar’s vibrant culture and distinctive offerings to a global audience. We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring, further solidifying Qatar’s positioning in the international sporting world.”