The Arabian Racing Organisation’s (ARO) 2025 season returns at Wolverhampton on Monday 7th April with increased prize money adding to the excitement around the returning series. This year, all Arabian races run in the UK will be worth a minimum of £6,000 thanks to a host of new sponsors.
During the off season ARO have teamed up with the likes of CarbonetZero Ltd, Rapido Racing, Newmarket Equine Salt Therapy System and Cre Run allowing the organisation to boost the prize money across the board throughout the new campaign. Al Nujaifi Racing Ltd will support the ARO season in the UK this year with three horses in-training, while they will also sponsor two races including a new £15,000 Fillies & Mares Listed Purebred Arabian (PA) Stakes at Windsor in June.
Highlights of the ARO season in 2025 include the Qatar International Stakes, run at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which will be worth £400,000. The UAE President Cup is back as part of the St Leger Festival this year and has also seen its prize money increase to £400,000.
There will also be two handicaps worth £10,000 each that will feature as part of the 2025 ARO season.
James Owen has trained purebred Arabians since 2015 and has been crowned Leading Arabian Trainer in the UK six times. Owen has trained Arabian winners around the world including in the UK, Belgium and Holland and is keen to retain his association with the breed. Owen has won the Arabian Racing Achievement Award at the HWPA Derby Awards on three separate occasions.
Owen trains across all codes including National Hunt and Flat as well as Arabian. He trained his first Group 2 winner on the flat last year in his first full season with a licence in the shape of Wimbledon Hawkeye. The Gredley Family-owned colt won the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) impressively and is one of the leading players in this year’s Derby.
Ahead of the new ARO season, Champion Trainer, James Owen said, “We’ve got nine Arabians this season. We’ve got a good mixture of some horses who did well last season and some horses who did well last year but are still developing. They’ve done really well over the Winter, and we’re really pleased with how they are training.”
He added, “I think it’s great that we’re racing for good prize money. All the races are worth over £6,000 and there are some really good incentives for some of the mid range handicaps, where a win can almost half pay for your season.”
ARO Chief Executive, Genny Haynes, said, "We are delighted to confirm this season's programme of Arabian races, which will take place at racecourses across Britain. Our thanks go to our new sponsors CarbonetZero Ltd, Rapido Racing, Newmarket Equine Salt Therapy System and Cre Run for their support this season, which has meant we have been able to invest significantly into the prize money available at all levels across the programme. Likewise, to Al Nujaifi Racing Ltd, who will have three horses in training this season alongside their sponsorship of the new Fillies & Mares Listed race at Windsor."
“The two highlights of the Arabian racing season in Britain, both worth £400,000 this season, will take place alongside two of the summer's most popular thoroughbred racing festivals. The Qatar Goodwood Festival will once again host the Group 1 Qatar International Stakes, whilst the UAE President's Cup will sit alongside the World's Oldest Classic on Betfred St Leger Day at Doncaster, and becomes Europe's richest 4-year-old only Arabian race.”
For more information, please visit www.aroracing.co.uk.
The 2025 Arabian Racing Organisation Fixture List
April
Mon 7th Wolverhampton (AW)
Mon 28th Lingfield Park (AW)
May
Tue 13th Chepstow
Fri 23rd Bath
Thu 29th Lingfield Park
June
Tue 10th Wolverhampton (AW)
Thu 12th Great Yarmouth
Mon 23rd Wolverhampton (AW)
Sat 28th Windsor
July
Wed 2nd Bath
Sat 12th Chester (LA)
Thu 17th Chepstow
Wed 30th Goodwood
August
Mon 4th Lingfield Park
Sat 16th Doncaster
Sun 17th Southwell (AW)
Sun 31st Brighton
September
Mon 8th Windsor
Sat 13th Doncaster
Tue 30th Bath
(AW) All Weather courses
(LA) denotes a late afternoon meeting
