BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY TO BE SHOWN BY RECORD NUMBER OF BROADCASTERS

The US$1m Bahrain International Trophy on Friday (17^th November) will be broadcast by 22 broadcasters – a record total for the event – as befitting one of the showpiece races in the region.

Fourteen horses are set to go to post in what is the strongest renewal yet in the race’s five-year history with five countries represented, and six of the intended runners already winners of either Group 1 or Group 2 races.

The field, headed by three-time Group 1 winner, Nation’s Pride, will be competing for a greatly-enhanced US$1m prize fund. The race has attracted overseas trained horses from France, Great Britain, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, as well as two locally trained runners. The race is due off at 3.05pm local time (12.05pm GMT).

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and HBA Media (HBA), two of the world’s leading horseracing media rights companies, working with the Bahrain Turf Club, are distributing the TV coverage.

Some of the world’s leading sports broadcasters are taking live coverage include Fox Sports in the US and ESPN / Star+ in Latin America and Caribbean. For the first time, live coverage will be shown in India and Indonesia via Fancode and Transvision.  Coverage of the race will also be widely available to news outlets across the world via Reuters news agency. The full list is below (*on delay / recording):

• North and South America, plus the Caribbean: Fox Sports, TVG (US); ESPN / Star+ (50 countries in Latin America, Caribbean); SportsMax (Caribbean).
• Europe: Equidia (France); Polsat (Poland); ITV* (UK), Racing TV (UK, Republic of Ireland); Setanta (14 countries in Balkans and Eurasia); SilkNet (Georgia); Virgin (Republic of Ireland); Wedo (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
• Asia and Australasia: racing .com (Australia); Fancode (India); Sony Pictures Network* (7 countries in Indian subcontinent); Transvision (Indonesia); Wasu* (China); Green Channel* (Japan)
• Middle East and Africa: Bahrain TV, Dubai Racing Channel (17 countries in MENA); Saudi TV* (Saudia Arabia); 4Racing (16 countries in Africa).

Yusuf Buheji, CEO of the Bahrain Turf Club, said: “The Bahrain International Trophy will once again receive significant exposure from broadcasters all around the world, including live coverage in India and Indonesia for the first time. We look forward to welcoming all the broadcasters and their audiences, both new and old, to what should be a fantastic day.”

RMG is also delighted to be working with Timeline TV in co-producing the live one-hour world feed programme (2.30pm to 3.30pm local), which will air in 112 countries.

Seb Vance, Director of Communications and International TV Distribution at RMG, added: “RMG is once again honoured to be working closely with the Bahrain Turf Club for its fifth season through our production, distribution and marketing partnerships. TV exposure is always an accurate barometer as to the appeal of any sport and Bahrain racing has clearly caught the imagination far and wide. Along with Timeline and HBA Media, we look forward to delivering another world-class event.”