Abu Dhabi: The Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival unveiled The HH Shaikha Bint Mubarak Darley Award for the best Lady in Arabian Racing (Open/International) awards along with the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival Darley Awards. Both awards will be given out in Houston in March, 2012.
At a press conference held on the sidelines of Adihex (Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition) yesterday, Lara Sawaya, Director of the Festival said, "The Darley Awards, the ‘Oscars' of Arabian racing in the US, marks 25 years since its inception and will be sponsored by the Festival."
"We also announce the HH Shaikha Fatma Bint Mubarak Darley Award for the best Lady in Arabian Racing (Open/International) awards and we will have five categories. A 12-member judges' panel will finalise the awards which will go a long way in boosting women's participation in Purebred Arabian racing," she said. Dr Klinsmann Wright, Chief of the Arabian Racing Cup, the organisers of the Darley Awards, said the newly introduced awards for women will honour and encourage women within the Purebred Arabian international racing fraternity.
"The Darley Awards were founded in 1987 to honour the best in Arabian horse racing. This distinguished ceremony recognises the most outstanding racehorses, jockeys, owners, trainers and breeders of the Arabian community," said Wright.
Honour
Mike Corbin, the US Ambassador to the UAE said, "I have only been in the UAE for six weeks and it is a great honour to see the support for this Festival for Purebred Arabian horses."
"The organisation of this Festival and the newly introduced Awards shows leadership and vision and it is not only about sports but also about women, about Purebred Arabian horses and about lady jockeys," the US envoy said.
Sami Jasem Al Bu Nain, Chairman of the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing (IFAHR) said, "The Festival started about three years ago and the Darley Awards is a fantastic addition."
