The 2026 running of the Bahrain International Trophy will be run as a Group 1 following an upgrade of the race's status, making it the first top-level contest to be staged in the country.Established in 2019, the 10-furlong Bahrain International Trophy will also offer increased prize-money of $1.5 million for the eighth edition, which takes place at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club on Friday, November 13.Previous winners include the popular globetrotter Lord Glitters (2021), with dual winner Spirit Dancer (2023 and 2024) and Royal Champion (2025) also adding their names to the roll of honour since the race was promoted to Group 2 status in 2023.His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, chairman of the Bahrain Turf Club, said, “This is a proud moment for The Kingdom of Bahrain. When we established the Bahrain International Trophy in 2019, it was always our ambition and belief that the race would grow to become our first Group 1 race. To have achieved that after only seven years is fantastic.“Bahrain's vision for horse racing is rooted in international collaboration, long-term development and a clear ambition to continue elevating the country's status within the global racing landscape.“The embodiment of this strategy is the Bahrain International Trophy, now promoted to Group 1 status. I would like to thank all those who have supported the race in the past and we are looking forward to welcoming more visitors and more world-class horses for the 2026 Bahrain International Trophy.”Yusuf Buheji, CEO of the Bahrain Turf Club, added, “The Bahrain International Trophy is our flagship race and its promotion to Group 1 status represents a significant step in the development of horse racing in Bahrain.“As well as the Bahrain International Trophy, the rest of our programme of premier races continues to grow, further increasing opportunities for international horses to compete throughout the season.”Entries for the 2026 renewal of the Bahrain International Trophy close on Wednesday, September 30. Full race conditions can be found on the Bahrain Turf Club website.The post Bahrain International Trophy Promoted to Group 1 Status, Offering $1.5m in Prize-Money appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.