Dubai creates Racing Carnival

The 2003 Dubai World Cup will be run on Saturday, March 29, as the climax of the newly established seven-week Dubai Racing Carnival at Nad Al Sheba.

The new program includes the establishment of the Dubai Triple Crown consisting of the one-mile Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas on Feb. 13, the 1 1/8-mile Al Bastikiya, moved from three weeks after the UAE Derby to three weeks before on March 8, and the $2 million 1 1/4-mile Group 2 UAE Derby itself on March 29.

The Carnival will begin on Feb. 13 with the UAE 2000 Guineas and Round 2 of the Maktoum Challenge, an early prep for the World Cup. The Emirates Racing Association has also scheduled March 8 at Nad Al Sheba as Super Saturday, an evening of racing that will include prep races for all six of the million-dollar plus events on the $15 million Dubai World Cup card.