Buy a racehorse to race in Bahrain: a private guide for owners
By the Silk Road Bloodstock team · Updated 25 October 2026
The 2026-27 season at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club runs from 30 October 2026 to 16 April 2027, with 30 race dates. It is Bahrain's 50th season and brings its first Group 1, the US$1.5 million Bahrain International Trophy on 13 November. The Bahrain Turf Series, 14 handicaps for horses rated 80 and above, starts on 18 December, and stabling nominations close on Thursday 5 November 2026. We find the right horse at the best sales worldwide and deliver it to a licensed trainer.
The 2026-27 Bahrain season at a glance
The Bahrain Turf Club promotes the season internationally. The Turf Series now has three divisions (sprint, a new mile division and middle distance): eleven races at US$80,000 each and three final-round races at US$100,000 each in March. Last season, Bahraini-trained and internationally trained runners won six series races each. Premier and pattern races are open to international participation.
Key dates 2026–27
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 26-29 Oct 2026 | Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, Newmarket: the sales we buy from |
| 30 Oct 2026 | Season opens (30 race dates to 16 Apr 2027) |
| Thu 5 Nov 2026 | Stabling nominations close for the Turf Series (check import rules and vaccinations first) |
| 13 Nov 2026 | Bahrain International Trophy (Group 1, 2,000m, US$1.5m), plus a new US$400,000 handicap over 2,800m |
| 18 Dec 2026 | Bahrain Turf Series round 1 (1,000m, 1,600m, 2,000m) |
| 2 Jan, 28 Jan, 18 Feb 2027 | Turf Series rounds 2-4 (US$80,000 races) |
| 29 Jan 2027 | Crown Prince's Cup (Group 3, 2,000m) |
| 4-5 Mar 2027 | King's Cup Festival: Turf Series final round (three US$100,000 races) and the King's Cup (Group 3, 2,400m, US$400,000) |
What a Bahrain owner usually buys
- A sound turf horse rated around 80 to 100, the band the Turf Series is written for. These horses are sold in numbers at the autumn horses-in-training sales in Europe.
- A sprinter, miler or middle-distance horse with proven form at the trip: the series now has all three.
- A horse that travels and settles well. It will spend the winter in a new climate and routine.
- A higher-class horse for the Group races (Bahrain International Trophy, Crown Prince's Cup, King's Cup), usually kept with its trainer abroad and flown in.
How we buy for you
- Your brief: budget, target races and your trainer if you have one. Send it here or by email.
- We search the best sales worldwide and private sellers, not one country, and send you a private shortlist with pedigree, form, ratings and videos. We never list specific horses on this site.
- Inspection and independent vetting (X-rays and a wind scope) before any bid.
- Your written authority before any bid or offer.
- You pay the seller or the sale company directly. Your purchase money never passes through us.
- Delivery to a licensed trainer of your choice, with a licensed shipper handling export papers, health tests and flights. Your trainer handles owner registration with the racing authority, and we confirm the owner and import rules in writing before we buy.
What it costs
- The horse: budgets from US$50,000.
- Our fee: 5% of the price, minimum US$5,000, agreed in writing before we start. If we are ever paid by both sides, both are told in writing first.
- Also allow for: vetting, insurance, shipping, import costs and training fees. Cost calculator.
Racing is never certain, and we never promise wins or returns. Owning a racehorse is a passion, not a way to make money. We promise a careful search and advice that works only for you. Licensed trainers train; we help you choose one, place the horse and supervise the plan.
A private enquiry
Tell us which race you dream of. We will reply personally and in confidence, usually the same day.
Email first: info@silkroadbloodstock.com · Call second: +971 52 311 2385 · WhatsApp as backup · Book a free call
Frequently asked questions
When do Bahrain Turf Series nominations close?
The Bahrain Turf Club lists Thursday 5 November 2026 as the deadline for stabling nominations for the 2026-27 Turf Series. Import requirements and vaccinations must be in order before you nominate. Entries for each race then close at 10am Bahrain time on the Monday of race week.
Who can run in the Bahrain Turf Series?
The series is for horses rated 80 and above. Both Bahraini-trained and internationally trained horses have won series races. Shipping, subsidies and incentives are explained by the club on request; your trainer confirms the details in writing before we buy.
How much does it cost to buy a horse for Bahrain?
Budgets start from US$50,000 for the horse. Our fee is 5% of the price, minimum US$5,000, agreed in writing. Also allow for vetting, insurance, shipping, import costs and training fees.
Does Silk Road Bloodstock train horses?
No. Licensed trainers train. We help you buy the horse, choose a licensed trainer, place the horse and supervise the plan.
Sources
Checked 25 October 2026. Dates and conditions are as published and can change; always confirm with the racing authority.
- Bahrain Turf Club, The Bahrain Turf Series 2026-27 (14 races from 18 Dec, rated 80+, prize values, stabling nominations by Thu 5 Nov 2026, entry and declaration times)
- Bahrain Turf Club, REHC racing season 2026-27 (30 Oct to 16 Apr, 30 race dates, key races and dates)
- Bahrain Turf Club, 30 Jun 2026: 50th season, first Group 1 (Bahrain International Trophy, 13 Nov, US$1.5m)
Owner registration: Bahrain (REHC) and Qatar (QREC) racehorse owner registration · Saudi Arabia (JCSA)
Read next: Buy a racehorse: Qatar · Buy a racehorse: Kuwait · Buy a racehorse: Oman · Buy a racehorse in Saudi Arabia · Buy a racehorse in Dubai · Bahrain Turf Series 2026-27: buying a horse in time · The global owner's calendar