Festival promises spectacular race meeting on November 8

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival has promised to make the November 8 race meeting at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club an exciting and memorable event, both on and off the tracks.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday evening, November 4, at the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Ballroom, Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), promised that the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Crown Jewel coupled with the finals o the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship  and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Championship were going to be entertaining affairs.

The race meeting is part of the Festival’s “One World, 6 Continents’ events and is being held under the directives of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

 “I would like to welcome all of you in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the world for Arabian racing and wish you a pleasant stay in this beautiful place,” she said.

“The closing ceremony of the Festival is going to be unique, non-traditional and unprecedented to underline the status of this beautiful city as a true capital of Arabian racing,” Ms Sawaya said.

“Apart from a range of activities on the sidelines there will be also be something on offer for the faithful racing fans,” she said.

 “The trophy of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Crown Jewel has been designed by the UAE designer Azza Al Qubaisi. It’s made of gold and studded with diamonds, besides the trophies of both HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship were designed by the UAE designer Kasi,” she stated.

The IFHRA chief said, “Our organization is making a very good progress. I’m also delighted to know that our growing organization has now 40 member countries,” she added.

Esam Abdulla, chairman of the UAE Arabian Horse Breeders Society said the Arabian races are now international and wished all participants the best of luck.

Sami Al Buainain, President of IFHAR hailed the success of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival while representatives of sponsors reiterated their support to the initiatives of HH Sheikh Mansoor and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

Meanwhile the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Training and Education Conference was inaugurated on Thursday morning. Top international experts will be taking part in discussions to develop the performance of the young jockeys. The first day’s conference will be followed later in the night with a fashion show presented by Lebanese designer Amal Azhary.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC),  Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels, Racing Post and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.

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