Bet the Dubai World Cup online with OffTrackBetting.com - US Legal Online Wagering

The Dubai World Cup, held at Meydan Racecourse, is the world's richest horse racing event, featuring a massive purse of $12 million. Wager on this exciting annual event online with OTB!

When is the 2026 Dubai World Cup?

Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Where is the Dubai World Cup raced?

The Dubai World Cup is raced at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, UAE.

How can I wager on the Dubai World Cup?

OffTrackBetting.com online OTB makes wagering available on the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse to to all its members. Betting is avaiable via the OTB website or downlaodable app.

Favorite Forever Young draws gate six for $12m Dubai World Cup

March 25 - Japan's dirt titan Forever Young will break from stall 6 under Ryusei Sakai in a field of nine for Saturday's $12m Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi drew the gate number during the post-position ceremony at Meydan racecourse on Wednesday morning, as he prepares Forever Young for his bid to improve on lasty year's third-placed effort.

Defending champion Hit Show is drawn alongside Forever Young in gate 5, while Magnitude and Walk Of Stars, two of the potential pace angles in the race

Quotes from the connections in draw order:

1 Magnitude

Scott Blasi, assistant trainer: "It's a short field and I think [gate] 1 of 9, with our pace, gives us a lot of options. I thionk he likes to be forwardly placed and we've won a lot of big races from the one hole."

2 Meydaan

Simon Crisford, joint-trainer: "I think we would have preferred to be a little bit further out. But we don't really want him to get shuffled back. The pace will be more intense in this race than on Super Saturday. But happy enough. "

3 Walk Of Stars

Bhupat Seemar, trainer: "It's a pertfect draw. He's got a lot of speed and from stall three he can dominate and display his natural speed."

4 Heart Of Honor

Jamie Osborne, trainer: "Walk Of Stars is inside us; he'll go fast, we won't! I was thinking beforehand I'd like to be a bit wider but on balanace I think it's okay. I wouldn't want to be one or two, trapped down the rail. But we might well end up on the rail because of the pace inside us."

5 Hit Show

Florent Geroux, jockey: "It doesn't matter for him really."

6 Forever Young

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer: "I wanted middle to outer, so I'm pleased."

7 Imperial Emperor

Bhupat Seemar, trainer: "It's perfect in seven. Forever Young is on the inside of him and he is going to be the favourite. He's the right horse to follow. Tadhg can just jump and follow him, hopefully all the way to the line, and hopefully we can be a head or a length in front."

8 Tap Leader

Doug Watson, trainer: "We wanted to be on the outside. A couple of times he got in the middle of it and we had to check him a couple of times in his last race. Form stall eight he should be able to keep his momentum up for the entire race."

9 Tumbarumba

Hamad Al Jehani, trainer: "Very happy. It's not a big field with only nine horses. Stall 9 gives us options, we can choose the best place for our horse during the race. Hopefully it will be useful."

The draw for the other four Group 1s on the $30.5m card also took place on Wednesday morning.

The 2025 World's Best Racehorse Calandagan will break from stall 2 in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, though post position is unlikely to play a major role in a field of six.

Dual Group 1-winner Ombudsman drew gate 7 in the $5m Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World, while 2024 winner Facteur Cheval is next door in stall 6.

Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Bentornato drew well in gate 2 for the $2m Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel, while Lazzat is housed in stall 7, two away from his Riyadh conqueror Reef Runner in 5, for the $2m Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments.

2026 Dubai World Cup Meeting Nominations

Superstars Forever Young, Calandagan and Rebel's Romance Among Dubai World Cup Likely Fields

Multiple Group 1 winners Forever Young and Calandagan are among the likely runners for the 30th Dubai World Cup meeting, at Meydan Racecourse, on Saturday 28 March.

A field of nine has been announced for the $12million G1 Dubai World Cup [sponsored by Emirates Airline], including 2025 winner Hit Show, aiming to become just the second horse to win the race twice, and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young. G2 winner Magnitude has also arrived from the US, while the UAE challenge is headed by G1 winners Walk Of Stars and Imperial Emperor.

Calandagan, who's brilliant 2025 culminated in victory in the G1 Japan Cup, heads a possible seven runners in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. His opposition includes nine-time G1 winner Rebel's Romance, as well as G1 Breeders' Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond.

The G1 Dubai Turf [sponsored by DP World] has also attracted a strong field, including multiple G1 winner Ombudsman, G1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands and Facteur Cheval, successful in this race in 2024.

The two sprints on the card also have international casts, with G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Bentornato facing 2024 winner Tuz in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen [sponsored by Nakheel] and top-level scorers Lazzat and Khaadem in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint [sponsored by Azizi Developments].

"We are delighted to see horses from so many different countries here for this landmark 30th Dubai World Cup meeting," said Erwan Charpy, Head of Department, Racing Operations & International Relations, for Dubai Racing Club.

"To have so many defending and former champions, including Hit Show. Rebel's Romance, Tuz, Forever Young and Dark Saffron back here is also very pleasing. We thank everyone for their support and wish them the best of luck on the big day."

The Dubai World Cup card comprises nine races and gets underway at 3:45pm UAE.

About the Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup was conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1996. Up until 2017, it was the world's richest race with a purse of $10M USD made available. It was briefly surpassed by the $12M Pegasus World Cup. Following the reduction of the Pegasus World Cup purse and the increase of the Dubai World Cup purse in 2019 to $12M USD, the UAE once again hosts the world's richest horse racing prize.

Before migrating to the Meydan Racecourse, which opened in 2010, the Dubai World Cup was hosted at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.

The next renewal of the Dubai World Cup will be on Saturday, March 27th, 2021 and once again hold a purse of $12M USD. This follows the cancellation of the event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the best racehorses produced by the United States have travelled to the Dubai World Cup and won. These include Arrogate (2017), California Chrome (2016), Animal Kingdom (2013), Well Armed (2009), Curlin (2008), Electrocutionist (2006), Roses in May (2005), Pleasantly Perfect (2003), Silver Charm (1998) and Cigar (1996). In fact, Cigar won the inaugural running of this race.