HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s WAHRC to be staged in African city of Marrakesh

Darley Awards in Hollywood on March 31, 2017

Marrakesh, a former imperial city in Western Morocco, will play host to the eighth edition of the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference, WAHRC, from May 1-7, 2017, under the umbrella of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

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), announced this at a press conference on Friday, October 7, 2016 on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), which is currently in progress at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The Festival and its sponsors have made their presence felt through a huge arena at the exhibition depicting all their activities.

Ms. Sawaya stated during the press briefing that Morocco was the first African country to host conference, under the guidelines of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs.

“Marrakesh is deeply embedded in history and culture and there could be no better place than this to host the Arabian horse racing conference,” she added.

Giving further details of the WAHRC, Ms. Sawaya said that the three-day workshop will be held from May 4-6, 2017, and it will be hugely supported by the UAE embassy in Morocco and the Moroccan Royal Society of Horses.

Marrakesh racecourse which will be inaugurated on May 7, 2017, will feature the Festival’s premier races. “We have the privilege of hosting the first race in the newly-constructed race course in Marrakesh, on which day there will be a huge attendance and entertainment in keeping with the tradition of Moroccan hospitality,” Ms. Sawaya added.

The much-needed unified data base of information on Purebred Arabian racing, now called His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Data Base for Purebred Arabian Horse Racing, will be unveiled at the Marrakesh conference, Ms. Sawaya said. It may be recalled that Ms. Sawaya had taken up the responsibility of the Data Base during last year’s WAHRC in Rome under the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s patronage following an overwhelming demand from the racing officials, owners, trainers, jockeys, media and sponsors of the Festival.

Ms. Sawaya warned that the Festival would even consider pulling out its support to those countries not cooperating with providing quick and accurate information regarding their domestic racing calendar, data on horses, owners, trainers and jockeys as well as results. “This is the first step which will go a long way in the promotion of Purebred Arabian horse racing under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” she said.

Ms. Meryem Ifhai, Charge de Communication, Moroccan Royal Society of Horses, thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for choosing to have the race in the new Marrakesh race course. “We will provide all our support to the best of our abilities and make it a memorable day for the visitors. We are equally elated that Morocco is the first African country to host the conference and it’s a huge honour.”

Dr. Abdulla Al Reyes, Director General of the National Archives, thanked his Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed for his vision in moving the conference to new territories. “The UAE-Morocco ties date back to the times of King Hasan V and ever since then, the ties are growing stronger by the day.” He also stated that the National Archives will be signing several new projects during the May conference.

The Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards will be presented at the historical Kodak Studio in Hollywood on March 31, 2017, according to Ms. Sawaya. “The Festival’s race will be held on the Santa Anita Racecourse on April 1, 2017 and like last year $100,000 will be donated to the disabled jockeys this year too. Also His Highness Sheikh Mansoor has instructed that an amount of $25,000 be dedicated to disabled jockeys in New Jersey, a new venue in the coming season, apart from another generous amount of $10,000 for the welfare of the retired race horses.”

The HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice race will be held in New Jersey Monmouth Park for the first time ever”, Ms. Sawaya announced.

Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Director, Communications, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, one of the key sponsors of the Festival and Ahmed Saeed, Department of Justice – Sports Court (CAS), thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Chairperson of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Mother of the World, for their continuous support to Purebred Arabian horse racing and encouraging young lady riders. “We are very proud to be partners of this highly successful Festival which has grown so much in the last few years,” Ahmed Saeed said.

Ms. Najla Nasser, representing National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, one of the strategic sponsors of the Festival, said their association with the Festival was growing stronger and they were very happy be to associated with all the activities of the Festival.

Ms. Sawaya welcomed on board Dr. Matea Polisoto, who specializes in naturopathy medicine, aromatherapy and sound healing, who will be giving nutritional tips to the jockeys. Dr. Polisoto thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansoor and Ms. Sawaya for giving her this opportunity to help the jockeys to maintain weight control and good health.

Also addressing the press conference were Ms. Kathy Smoke, President of Arabian Jockey Club in the US and Ms. Michelle Morgan, Chief Steward, Arabian Racing Cup. The two ladies hailed the support of the Festival for promoting Purebred Arabian horse racing in the US.

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, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The  National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare  and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf,  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 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

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