Addressing a press conference at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse, Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said, “the 11th year of the Festival initiated by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs will be bigger in the number of races and we thank HH Sheikh Mansoor 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 making it one of the world’s top events.”
Also attending the press conference and addressing the media were Dr. Abdullah Al Raisi, Director General of the National Archives, Aref Al Awani,
Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Faisal Al Rahmani, IFAHR President, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of Global Promotions-Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Khulood Al -Nuaimi-representative of National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Khalid Khalifa Naboodah of Al Aweer Stables, Khalil Al Saffar, Deputy Director of Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, and Ali Al Mulla, chairman of Areej, Mohammed Abdullah Al Masood –Sales Manager of Al Masoud Automobiles, Saeed Bin Sulaiman, representative of Emirates Airlines and Festival’s jockey Ambassador Xavier Ziani.
“The Festival’s 2019 calendar includes 10 races in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series, eight races in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship series, 10 in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship series and 13 in the HH Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Pony Championship series,” Ms. Lara Sawaya said.
Wathba Stallion Cup Grassroots Series
The Wathba Stallions Cup will once again focus on the grassroots level and 30 races will be held in the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain) while another 50 races will be staged outside the country with 20 of these in France alone, Ms. Sawaya stated.
The World Arabian Horse Racing Forum will be held in Romania from July 2 to 8, 2019.
Ms. Sawaya stated that the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Stakes race in Santa Anita, California will in 2019 carry a prize fund of US$ 50,000 and will be run on the Derby day.
She explained that the Endurance races this year includes the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup race “Al Wathba Land” on 22 February followed by the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan race on February 23.
WORLD’s RICHEST RACE FOR ARABIAN HORSES
“The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Group 1), the world’s richest race for Purebred Arabians will be held on November 24 and this year obliging requests from owners and connections a prep race has been scheduled for October 25,” Ms. Sawaya said.
The Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International awards will also be held along with the Conference on Training for jockeys to make it another memorable year for horse racing connections.
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 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, 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.
