Madrid to host 2018 World Arabian Horse Racing Forum

Festival to stage Sheikh Zayed Cup on Preakness Stakes day in 2018

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival announced a US$ 200,000 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup race on Preakness Stakes race meeting day next year in the US to coincide with 100 years of the founder of the UAE while Madrid in Spain was named as the hosts of the World Arabian Horse Racing Forum in 2018.

It will be one of the biggest day’s for Purebred Arabian horses when they line up for Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup 100 Years race at the Pimlico Race Course, in Batlimore, Maryland in 2018.

The Preakness is run on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes and the announcement was greeted with loud cheers at the Four Seasons in Marrakesh.

The announcements were made by Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees, on a busy final day of the three-day World Arabian Horse Racing Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco on Saturday.

“The late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a pioneer in promoting Purebred Arabian racing and the UAE marks the beloved leader’s 100 years in 2018. It is one of the biggest race days in the world when the Preakness Stakes is run and we will also see Purebred Arabians running in the US$ 200,000 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup 100 Years race, sponsored by National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC,” Ms. Sawaya announced during the Workshop of the WAHRC on Saturday afternoon.

Later in the night at the Gala Dinner and Awards function at Palais Namaskar, which was attended by many UAE Ambassadors, VIPs and the 500-plus guests who attended the three-day event, Madrid was named to host the 9th edition of the Conference in 2018, which earlier in the day was re-named as the World Arabian Horse Racing Forum.

Ms. Sawaya also announced that the Euros 1.2 million Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Group 1) in Abu Dhabi in November will be held on a Friday instead of Sunday, so November 10, 2017 is when the world’s richest race for Purebred Arabians along with the finals of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies and Apprentice championships will be run.

The Festival also decided to rename the Wathba Stud Farm Cup as the Wathba Stallions Cup-Wathba Stallions being the breeding arm of Purebred Arabian horses of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

“The Wathba Stallions Cup name-change is with immediate effect and next year we are planning to increase the races in this series from 61 to 90. We will also try and discuss with racing authorities in the UAE and around the world to ensure that the conditions for these races cater to the requirements of the small owners and private stables that the Festival is aiming to promote,” Ms. Sawaya said.

“The Wathba Stallions Cup series will only be open to horses from the host countries as the aim is to develop and promote Arabian racing in these countries,” she added.

In response to the Purebred Arabian horse connections in the UAE, Ms. Sawaya said the Festival will add races of DH 40,000 each to cater to the horses that never get a chance to run. “We will urge the Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah racecourses to see how best we can address this issue as many owners and trainers have complained of not getting enough races to run their horses,” she said.

On Saturday’s night, UAE Ambassadors, Sponsors, panelists on the various conference subjects and others were honoured amidst dance and music at the ‘Fusion Grand Orient Gala Dinner’ at Palais Namaskar.

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