Dazzling awards ceremony brings curtain down on Toulouse meet
4th World Arabian Racing Conference end on a positive note

The curtain came down on the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival's 4th World Arabian Racing Conference 2013 in Toulouse with a dazzling ‘Gala Awards Dinner’ at the historic Augustin Museum in Toulouse, France on Saturday night, June 8.

Officials, Arabian horse racing connections, journalists and envoys were felicitated by HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority for their contributions during after the three-day World Arabian Horse Racing Conference which concluded earlier on Saturday.

The presence of many UAE Ambassadors in Europe that included former UAE Ambassador to Germany HE Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud, HE Mohammad Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France; HE Abdul Rahman Ghanim Al Mutaiwee, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom; HE Juma Mubarak Al Junaibi, UAE Ambassador to Germany; HE Asim Mirza Al Rahma, the UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Poland and HE Saqr Nasser Ahmed Al Raisi, UAE’s Ambassador to Portugal reflected the strong support the Festival of HH Sheikh Mansoor received over the last five years.

Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture graced the awards ceremony and honoured them with mementoes.

“The passion and enthusiasm in each one of you is visible and to us at Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, that is indeed a great reward for supporting the activities of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

I once again would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for their visionary roles,” Al Muhairi said.

HE Mohammad Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France also hailed the support of HH Sheikh Mansoor and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. “We are delighted to have hosted this important conference here in Toulouse,” he said.

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 announced that the next edition of the World Arabian Racing Conference will be held in London.

HE Mohammad Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France handed over the plaque to HE Abdul Rahman Ghanim Al Mutaiwee, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom amidst a huge round of applause and now it will be London’s turn to stage the fifth edition of the Conference in 2014.

Ms Sawaya also announced that as per HH Sheikh Mansoor’s instructions the prize money for the 15-race Wathba Stud Farm Cup series in Abu Dhabi, which is aimed to boost small and private owners, has been increased from Dh 50,000 to Dh 70,000 per race from the 2013-14 UAE racing season. This also includes the four races which will be held during the race meetings to be held at the Al Ain race course.

The UAE’s Sheikh Hamed bin Khadem bin Butti Al Hamed, on behalf of the UAE breeders,  presented a memento His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his support to the local breeders and to Purebred Arabian racing. HE Mohammad Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France received the memento on behalf of HH Sheikh Mansoor.

Earlier during the final workshop of the Conference, Ms Lara Sawaya urged the officials involved with Purebred Arabian racing in their respective countries to put their differences aside and work towards promotion of Arabian racing. “His Highness Sheikh Mansoor and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima have done a lot over the last few years and now it is up to you to consolidate on this great initiative by the UAE leaders,” she told the delegates.

With a lot of suggestions pouring in towards making the rules and regulations uniform with regard to racing conditions and eligibility of horses, it was not possible to come up with any concrete solutions.

At the end of workshop, Ms. Lara Sawaya asked everybody if they wanted to "move along" and leave the past behind, and that was the overwhelming conclusion. Most of these issues will be discussed threadbare and decisions will be arrived soon, it was noted.

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.