Bahrain is betting on normalcy: the King’s Cup remains on track despite the growing regional tension

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Sakhir Racecourse; it is one of the countries currently under bombardment by Iran as part of the reprisals in the unfolding conflict

In Bahrain, racing would proceed normally on Thursday and Friday, despite the bombings / BAHRAN TURF CLUB

MADINAT HAMAD, Bahrain (Special for Turf Diario).— While the conflict in the Gulf continues to generate airspace closures and constant alerts, the instruction here is, for now, clear: push forward. Authorities at the Bahrain Turf Clubmaintain their intention to hold this week’s two-day King’s Cup meeting at Sakhir Racecourse.

On Monday, the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club officially published the entries for Thursday and Friday's meetings, including several international names. The highlight will be Friday with the HM The King’s Cup ($400,000 purse), featuring Royal Power (Frankel), trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, as well as West Wind Blows(Teofilo), prepared by Simon and Ed Crisford.

The region is experiencing complex days following airstrikes launched by the United States and Israel on Iran, followed by missile reprisals that hit several Gulf countries, including Bahrain. On Saturday, a missile even struck near the U.S. Fifth Fleet base in Manama.

Despite this scenario, Bahrain Turf Club racing director Ed Veale maintained that activity continues under permanent monitoring: “The government is handling the situation appropriately. It is something evaluated day by day, but for now, we are moving forward. The horses have trained normally and the entries are already published.”

One of the professionals experiencing the situation firsthand is Benoit de la Sayette, the 2022 champion apprentice based in Bahrain since October. “Where I live is not a direct risk zone; they seem to be targeting military bases. Sometimes it’s like watching fireworks, although it’s striking that some missile defenses are near the racetrack,” he explained. According to his account, they receive preventive alerts even in the early morning hours.

The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force reported intercepting 45 missiles and 9 drones in recent days, with debris falling in various areas, though no major damage has been reported in the vicinity of the racecourse.

In parallel, numerous British professionals remain in the United Arab Emirates with no flights available. Gary Hind, former jockey and current collaborator for Saeed bin Suroor in Dubai, described the atmosphere as "underlying tension," comparing it to the nervous silence of a jockeys' room on a big race day.

For now, Bahrain is sticking to the calendar. But everyone agrees that the situation is dynamic. If the conflict persists, decisions could change from one moment to the next. Meanwhile, turf racing attempts to sustain its usual rhythm, even as the context forces a constant watch on the skies.