Experts gather to mull promotion of Arabian racing

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s annual World Arabian Horse Racing Conference got off to a start at the Four Seasons Hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco on Thursday, May 4, 2017.

Over 400 delegates representing 86 countries are attending the three-day conference, which will be followed by the ‘UAE Abu Dhabi Day’ racing at the Hippodrome Marrakesh on Sunday, May 7.

Many UAE envoys and racing officials from the UAE and the world are in attendance.

The event is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, who in a message welcome those attending the Conference.

“The WAHRC started in Abu Dhabi and after being held in five different countries in Europe, it is now being held in a country in which both Arab culture as well as Purebred Arabian racing is deep-rooted,” he said in his message.

“The continent of Africa has great potential and Purebred Arabian racing has its presence in almost all of the countries. This WAHRC meeting could be the ideal platform to get more members into the growing fraternity of Purebred Arabian racing.”

“The Marrakech Conference is also sure to throw up some new facets of the challenges facing the practice and promotion of Purebred Arabian racing on the continent and around the globe,” HH Sheikh Mansoor said.

The UAE Charge d’Affaires HE Mohammed Al Yamahi welcome the delegates before the first session on Breeding started.

Mubarak Al Nuaimi of TCA Abu Dhabi said that the Festival was an important vehicle in promoting tourism and culture. “Last year we had recorded 4.4 million visitors and our target for this year is 4.9 million. We already have a four per cent increase in the first quarter this year so we may exceed that target,” he said.

Khulood Al Nuami representing the sponsors National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC said it was a delight to host the event in Arab land and hailed the support of HH Sheikh Mansoor and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE.

Dr. Abdulla Al Raisi of National Archives said the role of education played a huge part in the success of the Conference and stressed that education was a must for those who are young and starting to learn the process of Arabian horse racing.

Ahmed Al Hammadi of Emirates Racing Association said the experts and experienced panelists were bound to enrich the three-day event.

IFAHR chief Sami Al Bouenain said, “The Festival and the conference has succeeded in bring all horse racing officials of Purebred Racing under on one stage. Today we also have the World Arabian Horse Organisation (WAHO) President Mr Peter Pond here and all this augurs well for the future of Purebred Arabian racing.”

Omar Skalli, chief of Morocco’s racing body SOREC said, “On Sunday we will be inaugurating our 7thrace track here in Marrakesh. We stage 2000 races in Morocco and 700 are for Purebred Arabians. Ninety per cent of Arabian horses are bred here in our country.”

“We have around 3000 horses and a thousand owners and this latest conference and race meeting on Sunday is bound to propel the growth further,” he added.

On Wednesday night the guests were treated to a ‘Casablanca night’ at the Royal Mansour in Marrakesh.

The three sessions on the opening day were ‘Breeding’, ‘Racing and Training’ and ‘Jockeys’ weight control and nutrition’.

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, 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 with  and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC,  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 2017, 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 / Bharathi Gowda
Photo: Cidinha Franzão / Nilza Felice