Goodwood Racecourse, famed for its horseracing championships, has announced a new 10-year partnership with Qatar in what is claimed to be the single biggest sponsorship deal in British racing.
The partnership will involve £2m being invested into prize money for eight key races during the Qatar Goodwood Festival in July 2015, formerly known as Glorious Goodwood, and this could be increased year-on-year.
Total prize money on offer for the week will now be £4.5m in 2015
The Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, scheduled for Wednesday July 29, has a total prize fund of £1m, making it one of the most valuable mile races in the world.
The closely-watched Sussex Stakes, open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older, was won by Kingman this year, led by jockey James Doyle
The Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, the feature race on the Saturday of the Qatar Goodwood Festival is now worth £600,000, making it the most significant mid-summer race for young female horses.
Other prizes include the Qatar Vintage Stakes and the Qatar Richmond Stakes, worth £200,000 each.
Lord March, owner of Goodwood, said: “Goodwood has, for more than 200 years, been about the best racing in the most English of settings, accessible to everyone. Our partnership with Qatar will make an enormous contribution to horseracing in the UK.”
Horseracing began at Goodwood in 1802, by the third Duke of Richmond, and the event is a highlight for horseracing fans across the world.
“Goodwood is already one of the most iconic sporting festivals of the British summer season and we are delighted to be the title sponsor over the five days. The sponsorship demonstrates Qatar's further commitment to British racing and, with such huge prize-money on offer, we hope it will help to attract international runners from all over the world as well as continuing to see the best in Britain, France and Ireland,” said Hamad Al Attiyah, president of the Qatar Equestrian Federation.