The 6th annual World Arabian Horse Racing Conference (WAHRC) was declared open by the UAE Ambassador to Poland, His Excellency Azim Mirza Al Rahma at the Ufficio Primo in Warsaw, Poland on Thursday morning.

Welcoming the 400 delegates from over 80 countries, HE Mirza said, “The UAE always cares for Purebred Arabians and this event is a tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May his soul rest in peace) who was the first and foremost in protecting and caring for Purebred Arabian horses. This is being continued by the present UAE leadership led by HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the other emirates.”

“This Conference is important for Poland which has a rich history of Arabian horses as well as to all the countries participating here and this event also boosts the UAE-Polish ties on many fronts,” he said.

The opening ceremony was attended by many UAE envoys and Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said around 18 envoys will be attending the event during the course of the next four days.

“This is a great opportunity and we hope all the participants will speak from their heart as we are all here due to our passion for the Purebred Arabian horse,” she said.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Sharqi representing Invest AD and Mubarak Al Nuaimi of TCA Abu Dhabi expressed pleasure at being associated with the Festival as sponsors.

Agnieszka Marczak, President of the Polish Jockey Club said Poland was privileged to be chosen to stage this important conference. “Poland is a country whose history is entwined with Arabian horses and we hope over the next few days you enjoy our Polish hospitality,” she said.

Yasir Mabrouk, representing the Emirates Racing Association said the Conference was a gift to the Arabian Racing world from HH Sheikh Mansoor and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak.

IFAHR Vice President Genny Haynes said, “IFAHR is pleased and proud to be part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival. It is encouraging to see some established faces and some new ones here for the WAHRC. The Festival has made a huge difference to Arabian racing since 2009 and many new countries have evinced interest in IFAHR thanks to the success and progress of the Festival.”

Wojciech Szpil, President of Totalizator also spoke at the opening of the WAHRC and said the Festival had contributed to racing in Poland and he hoped the support of the Festival will continue for years to come.

At the press conference earlier on Wednesday night, Ms Lara Sawaya said that during Friday’s Meeting of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA)there will be an announcement of the new members who have joined the Abu Dhabi-headquartered body. “Due to this we have increased this year’s number of races in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship from nine to 11.

At the same press conference, Mussallam Al Amri, General Manager of Wathba Stud Farm and Ahmad Al Hammadi, the UAE representative at IFAHR thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Mother of the World for creating the opportunity to stage the WAHRC.

Khalid Al Hammadi conveyed the greetings of HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development for all those attending the Conference.

Commenting on the Arabian Ursula Zawadzka Racing Festival on Sunday during which the Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship races will be held at the Sluzewiec racecourse, she said, “It is a challenge as well as a matter of pride to stage these races here.”

“With so many lady jockeys and Apprentice jockeys coming from all over the world this is a huge international racing day for the Polish fans who love Arabian racing,” she said.

DRAW HELD

Earlier on Wednesday night the draw to nominate which riders will be riding which horses for the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship races were held.

HE Mohammad Al Suweidi, UAE Ambassador to Oman was also present at the press conference and the draw.

In the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship the following are the horses and jockeys: Dirhem (Luke Leadbitter-UK), Benefis (Omar Lakjal-Morocco), Wilden (Corrine Andros-Canada), Nicolas (Konrad Mazur-Poland), Karla Al Khalediah (Burak Averbak-Turkey), Dar Duni (Shakir Al Balushi-Oman), Al-Dar (Jake Bayliss-Australia), Hiszpan (Joddie Prasser-Germany), Sarah Al Khalediah (Eoin Walsh-Ireland) and Perfector (Zoe Vande Velde-Belgium).

In the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race the following horses and jockeys were drawn : ES Fahan (Patrycja Klos-Poland), Margaret (Camille Peltier-France), Kasir Al Khalediah (Tjarda Humphreji-The Netherlands), Wielka Dajana (Alexandria Bihari-Hungary), Amadeusz BS (Jessica Marcialis-Italy), Zahim (Aileen O’Sullivan-Ireland), Wasilew (Bouchra Marmoul-Morocco), Fuksuss (Michala Kucharikova-Slovenia), Pirat (Sarah Shaffer-USA) and Sangus (Lorna Brooke-UK).

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 in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), 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 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.