World Arabian Horse Racing Conference opens in Toulouse

Leading officials, experts, veterinarians, trainers and jockeys connected with Purebred Arabian Horse Racing began deliberations in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Fourth World Arabian Horse Racing Conference which began at the Centre de Congrès Pierre Baudis in Toulouse, France on Thursday, June 6

HE Abdullah Al Shamsi, Second Secretary at the UAE Embassy welcomed the delegates on behalf of Mohammed Meer El Raessi, UAE Ambassador to France while Mr. Sami Jassim Al Boenain, Chairman, International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, IFAHR Vice Chairman and Representative of Emirates Racing Authority also greeted those attending the three-day conference. All three officials hailed the support and thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for having the conference for the fourth year.

HE Abdullah Al Shamsi

Sami Jassim Al Boenain

Earlier on Wednesday night, at a well-attended press conference, Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies Racing thanked the French officials for their support in staging the conference in Toulouse.

“Among those attending the three-day conference and the two races on Sunday we have eight envoys, around 75 journalists from all over the world as well as some of the most well-known officials involved in Arabian horse racing,” she said.

“Apart from five tickets which will be raffled free, we will also be giving away five awards in the form of jewellery for those who shop at Galleries Lafayette. For the first time we will be awarding expensive watched for the winning trainers of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) races which will be held on Sunday, June 9,” Ms Sawaya said.

Mr. Sami Jassim Al Boenain, Mr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Yves Plantin, Chairman of AFAC (French Arabian Horse Federation), Jerome Rambaud, Head of Toulouse Racecourse, Jean-Michel Vernhes, CEO of Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, Martial Boisseuil, Director of Racing (Europe) of Wathba Stud Farm and Stephen Bowey, Executive Director of Invest AD also addressed Wednesday night’s press conference.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA and Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Galleries Lafayette and Toulouse Airport.