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Abu Dhabi gears up for the big Arabian racing day

Abu Dhabi, November 6, 2013 – Arrangements are well in place to host the grand final of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR as 14 top female jockeys from around the globe line up for honours in the title battle of the most prestigious international women’s competition at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here on Sunday, November 10.

The six-race-card is also highlighted, among others, with the final round of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Prestige) and the second edition of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak EARS Apprentice Jockey Race with 11 youngsters and teenagers going to post astride Purebred Arabian horses.

The event is held under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and will be preceded by the first-ever HH Sheikha Fatima EARS conference which will be held over two days (Friday and Saturday) to handle vital issues associated with the future of horse racing.

Three hundred experts from 29 countries have been invited by the festival to tackle issues related to the future of staffing and training in the horse industry, continued professional development, technical support and future and inspiration.

In the meantime, the partners and sponsors of the festival have once again reiterated their commitment to throw their weight behind the vision of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs to promote the Arabian horse and the culture and heritage of the UAE worldwide.

Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation  of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) conveyed the greetings of the patron of the festival HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the officials, guests, jockeys and attendants saying that they are all most welcomed to the capital of the world’s women racing Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to newsmen at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA, Sawaya said: “There’s plenty in store for all participants and members of the public in the final of the festival and everyone is a winner.”

“We are here once again to send to the world one important message; the global vision of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “Riders from Malaysia, Singapore and Korea will jump for the first time on the back of the Arabian horses in both the final of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR and the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak EARS Apprentice Jockey Race where the stars of the future will be in action on Sunday.

When asked about the prizes which have been reserved for the winners, Sawaya said the winners of the ladies championship and apprentice race will receive Rolex wrist piece each valued at $9000 over and above the prize-money.

“The top three finishers in the Ladies Mundial will receive Dh33.334 each while the first three riders who cross the finish line in the apprentice race get Dh25.000 each,” she confirmed.

“A special song has been composed for the lady riders and will be performed by top UAE singer Aryam. The melody will be broadcasted by the Radio stations in the countries of all participating jockeys daily for one week,” she added.

“Moreover, we have 15 races for the Wathba Stud Cup in Abu Dhabi and each race will be named in association with one of the racecourses which host the Wathba Stud Cup races abroad and the beginning is with the Newbury Racecourse.

California and Texas racecourses will follow from November 17. Furthermore, we will bring the international racecourses together in the overseas races to underline once again the global vision of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

However, it has also been officially announced that, the festival will host sponsor five endurance races around the world during the upcoming 2014/ 2015 season.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Invest AD,  Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA and Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf