Dubai adds turf marathon to World Cup Card

A new $1 million race has been added to the Dubai World Cup program at Meydan Racecourse next March, but it is unlikely to figure prominently among American invaders.

Meydan officials announced on Thursday that the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup over about two miles on turf will be added to the World Cup card on March 31. The race will be part of a nine-race program, which will feature eight races for Thoroughbreds and one for Arabians.

With the new race, prize money on the Dubai World Cup program will be $27.25 million.

American horses are not expected to figure prominently in the newly announced turf marathon, if at all, since the division tends to race over 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles in this country. The Dubai Gold Cup will be a Group 3 race.

Meydan will host 16 programs as part of the Dubai World Cup Carnival in early 2012, beginning on Jan. 5 and concluding with the Dubai World Cup program.