The Dubai World Cup ranks among the richest and most prestigious horse races anywhere in the world—but just how much Dubai World Cup prize money is actually up for grabs in the Meydan showpiece in 2026?
With the ongoing troubles in the Middle East many are also wondering – will the 2026 Dubai World Cup will go ahead?
It’s hard to say, at this stage, with safety first and all that.
But if the big race does go ahead – you can see the prize money breakdown the runners will be trying to win.
What Is The 2026 Dubai World Cup Prize Money? 💰
The Dubai World Cup prize money sees the race currently the second-richest horse race on the planet, sitting behind only the Saudi Cup, with The Everest third.
With $7m (£5.5m) on offer to the winner of the Dubai World Cup and a total $12m purse up for grabs.
But the race still sits behind the Saudi Cup, which is staged in Riyadh and worth $20m. While The Everest is worth $20m AUD.
At the end of this article, we also rank the top 10 richest horse races in the world.
But before that, you can see the full breakdown of this year’s Dubai World Cup prize money 2026 below – with the winning horse banking a cool $7m.
2026 Dubai World Cup Prize Money Breakdown💵
See the full Dubai World Cup prize money breakdown in dollars.
🥇 $6,960,000
🥈 $2,400,000
🥉 $1,200,000
4th $600,000
5th $360,000
6th $240,000
7th $120,000
8th $120,000
2026 Dubai World Cup Prize Money Breakdown💷
See the full Dubai World Cup prize money breakdown in pound sterling.
🥇 £5,568,000
🥈 £1,920,000
🥉 £960,000
4th £480,000
5th £288,000
6th £192,000
7th £96,000
8th £96,000
Who Won The Dubai World Cup Last Year (2025)? 🏆
Hit Show, who was ridden by jockey Florent Geroux, won the 2025 Dubai World Cup for US trainer Brad Cox – winning a staggering £5,568,000 for his owners Wathnan Racing.
The 5yold returned a huge 66/1 in the betting and came home 1/2 a length clear of the Frankie Dettori-ridden Mixto.
Back in third was the red-hot favourite – the Japanese horse Forever Young, who was sent off 4/9 in the betting.
2025 Dubai World Cup Result
🥇Winner: Hit Show (66/1)
🥈Mixto (40/1)
🥉Forever Young (4/9 fav)
WATCH: Hit Show Landing The Dubai World Cup Prize Money in 2025
Dubai World Cup Past 10 Winners
- 2025 – Hit Show (66/1)
- 2024 – Laurel River
- 2023 – Ushba Tesoro
- 2022 – Country Grammer
- 2021 – Mystic Guide
- 2020 – No Race
- 2019 – Thunder Snow
- 2018 – Thunder Snow
- 2017 – Arrogate
- 2016 – California Chrome
- 2015 – Prince Bishop
Note: All Dubai World Cup prize money 2026 shown is subject to change
Dubai World Cup 2026 Race Details 🗓️
📅 Date: Saturday, 28th March 2026
⌚ Time: 5:30pm
🏇 Racecourse: Meydan
🔄 Trip: 1m 2f (2000m)
💷 Winning Purse: $7 million
📺 TV: Racing TV
What Are The Richest Horse Races In The World? 🤑
1. Saudi Cup: $20 million
The newest name at the top—and the richest race in the world. First run in 2020 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, the Saudi Cup immediately set the benchmark with a $20 million purse, including $10 million to the winner.
It has drawn elite runners from across the globe, with early winners from the US and Britain before a memorable home victory by Emblem Road in 2022.
With prize money holding firm, it looks set to stay on top for the foreseeable future.
Japanese horse Forever Young took the pot in 2025.
🥇Recent Winner: Forever Young
2. Dubai World Cup: $12 million
Created by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, this race set a new standard when it launched in 1996 as the world’s richest.
Run over 2,000 meters on dirt, it has always attracted a global field, particularly from the US – with the Brad Cox-trained Hit Show winning for America in 2025.
Its roll of honour includes stars like Cigar, Dubai Millennium, Pleasantly Perfect, California Chrome, and Arrogate—and it remains one of racing’s premier international targets.
🥇Recent Winner: Hit Show
3. The Everest: $9.6 million (A$15 million)
The standout of Australia’s new wave of races became the richest turf race in the world when it debuted in 2017.
Using a “slot-holder” system, it’s also the shortest race in this top tier at 1,200 meters—a distance Australian sprinters thrive over.
Held at Royal Randwick Racecourse, it has quickly become the centrepiece of Sydney’s spring racing calendar.
The Japanese-trained Ka Ying Rising took the race in 2025.
🥇Recent Winner: Ka Ying Rising
4. The Golden Eagle: $6.4 million (A$10 million)
Prize money in Australia has surged in recent years, particularly in Sydney, and this race is a prime example.
First run in 2019, this 1,500-meter contest for four-year-olds quickly grew in value, reaching A$10 million in 2022—10% of which goes to charity.
Although it clashes with the Melbourne spring carnival and remains ungraded, it still draws high-quality fields.
The Chris Waller-trained Autumn Glow shone in 2025.
🥇Recent Winner: Autumn Glow
Tied 5. Dubai Sheema Classic: $6 million
The leading turf race at Meydan, this 2,410-meter Group 1 has grown steadily since its debut in 1998.
Elevated to top-level status in 2002, it’s now firmly established among the world’s elite races.
Horses from South Africa, Hong Kong, Britain, France, Ireland, and Japan have all targeted—and won—it.
With the richest purse for a mile-and-a-half turf race, it remains a key international prize.
The Shogo Yasuda-trained Danon Decile saw off the French horse Calandagan in 2025.
🥇Recent Winner: Danon Decile
Tied 5. Breeders’ Cup Classic: $6 million
When it launched in 1984, this was the richest race in the world and quickly became North America’s ultimate dirt championship.
Run over 1¼ miles, it still serves as the defining clash between top three-year-olds and older horses.
While global rivals have overtaken it in prize money, it remains the richest in North America—and often decides Horse of the Year honours.
Forever Young added this lucrative pot to his CV in 2025 – with the race run at Del Mar.
🥇Recent Winner: Forever Young
Tied 7. Japan Cup: $5.9 million (864,000,000 yen)
This and the next race sit slightly lower than usual due to the strength of the U.S. dollar.
First run in 1981, this 2,400-meter contest at Tokyo Racecourse quickly became a global target.
In its first 25 years, winners came from across the world—but as Japan’s thoroughbred industry surged, local runners took over, beginning a remarkable 16-year winning streak sparked by Deep Impact in 2006.
The Francis-Graffard-trained Calandagan took the Japan Cup in 2025 for top owner the Aga Khan.
🥇Recent Winner: Calandagan
Tied 7. Arima Kinen: $5.9 million (864,000,000 yen)
Run over 2,500 meters at Nakayama Racecourse, the Arima Kinen stands out in several ways. Notably, 10 of its 16 runners are selected by public vote.
It’s also the world’s biggest betting race—turnover in 2021 reached around $430 million, dwarfing events like the Grand National and the Kentucky Derby. As Japan’s end-of-season championship, it plays a major role in deciding Horse of the Year.
Another Japanese horse won this top race in 2025, when Museum Mile entered the history books.
🥇Recent Winner: Museum Mile
Tied 9. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: $5 million (€5 million)
Europe’s richest race by some distance. Run over 2,400 meters (about 1½ miles) at Longchamp Racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris, on the first Sunday in October, it has been the continent’s most competitive contest since World War II.
More often than not, it’s also rated the highest-quality race in the world by the World Thoroughbred rankings.
The Aga Khan-owned Daryz won Europe’s top middle-distance race in 2025.
🥇Recent Winner: Daryz
Tied 9. Melbourne Cup: $5 million (A$7,775,000)
For most of its history, this was Australia’s richest race—until being overtaken in recent years.
Staged over 3,200 meters (about two miles) at Flemington Racecourse, it’s the longest race on this list and the only one run under handicap conditions.
Its cultural pull is enormous: Melbourne even gets a public holiday for it. Once dominated by Australian and New Zealand runners, it’s become far more international since 1993, with winners from Ireland, Japan, France, Germany, and Britain.
Top female Australian rider Jamie Melham won this historic race in 2025 on Half Yours.
🥇Recent Winner: Half Yours
Tied 9. Dubai Turf: $5 million
Given the wealth of big-money races at Meydan Racecourse, this one can slip under the radar—but it’s a hugely valuable contest in its own right. Its U.S. dollar purse helps secure a place on this list.
Run over 1,800 meters (about 1⅛ miles), the Group 1 Dubai Turf has consistently drawn an international field. With winners from the U.S., Dubai, France, South Africa, Germany, Australia, Britain, and Japan.
In fact, at horse from Japan won in 2025 when the Yasutoshi Ikee-trained Soul Rush had too much speed.
🥇Recent Winner: Soul Rush
