2016 USA DARLEY NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival-supported event on March 31

Paddys Day, winner of the 2015 Horse of the Year US Darley Award has once again been nominated for that category as well as for Best Older Horse in the 2016 US Darley Awards which is sponsored and supported by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

The Arabian Racing Cup announced the nominees for the coveted USA Darley Awards. These nominees were selected by the Cup Stewards as the best of Arabian Racing in the U.S. for the year 2016. Beginning next week, the Darley Voting Academy will review detailed statistics and performance data from the Arabian Jockey Club about these nominees and cast their votes via confidential ballots. 

The nominees:

The winners will be crowned Darley Champions of 2016 at the 30th Annual Darley Awards March 31 through April 2, 2017 in Hollywood, California. The glittering ceremony and gala weekend is sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival.

Giving details of the three-day event, 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) said, “The HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival-supported Darley Awards will be presented on March 31 at the Dolby Theater in Highland Center. On the same night the prestigious HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Awards will also be awarded to top lady achievers in various fields Flat-racing and endurance sport.”

“On April 1 the focus will shift to Santa Anita Race Course and the $100,000 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Award Stakes (Gr.1 PA). On Sunday evening, April 2, the Celebration Banquet and annual stallion breeding auction will be held at the host hotel, the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel,” Ms Sawaya said.

“We are excited and looking forward to the event and we thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival for supporting the Darley Awards since 2012. Founded in 1983 by Dr. Sam Harrison, the Arabian Racing Cup's Darley Awards ceremony is the showcase of U.S. Arabian racing. The Darleys are headlined by the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards recognizing international women in Arabian Horse Racing,” said Michelle Morgan, Chief Steward of the Arabian Racing Cup.

More details can be got from the Arabian Racing Cup's website, www.arabianracingcup.com

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
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf