The Tracks

Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is located 10 minutes from the city centre of Dubai. The 2,200m left handed dirt track was first laid out in 1986 and was resurfaced in 1997 before the running of the third Dubai World Cup.

DIRT TRACK

The Nad Al Sheba track has three chutes, the 2,000 metre ( miles) chute which will be used for the Dubai World Cup (Group 1), a 1,600 metre (1 mile) chute and a 1,200 metre (3/4 mile) chute. From the 2,000 metre chute, horses in the Dubai World Cup will race around two gradual left hand turns before entering the 600 metre (3/8 mile) finishing straight.

The width of the dirt track is 21 metres (approx 66 feet) accommodating up to 16 runners comfortably. The track is made up of a hard dirt base with 18cms (approx 7 inches) on the surface. 8cm (3 inches) of cushion is routinely harrowed up, watered and groomed to ensure the going remains constant. The track is also extremely well drained, and state-of-the-art equipment is used to seal the surface in the event of anticipated rainfall.

THE TURF TRACK

The Nad Al Sheba turf track is an 11 furlong/2200 metre (miles) left handed three turn course. It is inside the dirt track and has a 2% camber on the straights and 4% camber on the turns. The grass is a Bermuda Hybrid from the United States which thrives in the hot and humid climate. In the winter months when the Bermuda grass is dormant, winter rye is planted for cover in order to add cushion and colour during the colder months.

The grass was originally planted in Dubai "sweet soil" in 1995 and since then, in order to improve the cushion, the course has been top dressed with two inches of Irish peat moss. The peat moss has given the course bounce, a good cushion, and holds together well.