The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has spilled over into neighboring Middle East countries, including the United Arab Emirates, which is home to Dubai, where horses and horsemen are preparing for the March 28 Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan Racecourse. The UAE is south of Iran, across the Persian Gulf.
Among the horses already in Dubai is 2025 Eclipse champion Older Dirt Male and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) victor Forever Young.
The X (formerly Twitter) account for trainer Yoshito Yahagi's racing stable provided an update March 2 on Forever Young and another of Yahagi's pupils, American Stage, a 4-year-old son of Into Mischief who was fourth in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
"We apologize for causing concern to everyone. Forever Young and American Stage are running side-by-side on the main track, at a light canter, and are continuing their training as usual. There were no explosions or intercepting sounds last night, so the staff seemed to be able to get some rest."
This post came a day after the head of Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, which oversees the Japan Racing Association, posted on X that the country's government has made the "protection of Japanese nationals as our top priority."
While the Japanese government has worked to evacuate its citizens from Iran, some are in Dubai, whose safety has been in question, as Dubai International Airport and other locations within the UAE have been targeted.
MAFF Minister Norikazu Suzuki took to the social media platform March 1 to say he had "received reports on the status" of JRA-affiliated horsemen and horses in Dubai. He wrote, "With the protection of Japanese nationals as our top priority, the government will take every possible measure to ensure their safety."
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration "projected" combat to last four to five weeks, but that the U.S. "has the capability to go far longer than that."
If military action lasts that long, it could have an impact on whether last year's Dubai World Cup winner returns to Meydan. Wathnan Racing's Hit Show is tentatively expected to defend his title. But if Trump's timeframe holds true, that would certainly jeopardize Hit Show's chances of returning to Dubai.
Speaking on the latest edition of the BH Monday podcast, Hit Show's trainer, Brad Cox, was asked if the fighting has affected his operations given his history to send horses to race in the Middle East at this time of year.
"It hasn't yet. I don't know if it will," Cox said. "It's definitely something we've been thinking about the last few days. Our next scheduled trip to the Middle East right now is Hit Show leaving on (March) 14th out of Miami to Dubai. I don't know if that will happen. We're preparing as if it will right now. We'll just kind of monitor things and see how things unfold over the next few weeks."
