Newbury: A record 26 international runners, including entries from Sweden, Italy and Holland, are among a strong line-up of horses who will compete for a best ever prize purse of £180,000 (Dh865,661) when the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) celebrates its 35th anniversary at Newbury Racecourse in the UK on Sunday.
The increase in international participation at Purebred Arabian racing’s annual flagship event is a direct result of the new series of prep races that were added to the DIAR calendar this year.
The forward-thinking DIAR Committee, headed by Mirza Al Sayegh, are reaping the rewards of several new initiatives that were also introduced this season which includes a bonus scheme, travel incentives and a significant boost in total prize money for the eight-race programme which is regarded as the best day of Arabian racing anywhere in the world.
The DIAR was created by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, in 1980 as a showcase for the Arabian horse which is so close to his heart.
Al Sayegh, who is also the Director of Shaikh Hamdan’s Office, highlighted Shaikh Hamdan’s desire and enthusiasm to promote Purebred Arabian racing, at an entertaining press conference at Newbury Racecourse on Thursday.
“Shaikh Hamdan has been a passionate supporter of Purebred Arabian racing for over three decades,” he said. “He has expressed his desire and delight to continue to support the sport and events like the Dubai International Arabian Races.
“He is keen to help the sport to grow and also inspire other similar events across the UK and Europe under the banner of the DIAR.
“We have left no stone unturned in our efforts to ensure that Sunday’s flagship meeting, which is the culmination of an exciting year of racing that featured prep races in Sweden, Holland and Italy, will surpass all expectations.
“Shaikh Hamdan will attend Sunday’s meeting, as he has always done over the years, and he is looking forward to seeing some world-class racing and sporting entertainment,” Al Sayegh added.
“He has thanked all the sponsors and supporters of Arabian racing for their continued enthusiasm for this very special raceday which has been close to his heart right from the beginning.
“We look forward to welcoming a big crowd to Newbury Racecourse, which has been a great partner in our cause to promote Arabian racing, and in particular to the families and school children, who are the future of the sport.
“I’m sure it will be an exciting and truly memorable day for one and all.”
Julian Thick, Newbury’s spirited Chief Executive, echoed Al Sayegh’s sentiments on Arabian racing and said: “We are once again absolutely delighted to host such a unique race meeting.
“We can feel the buzz it creates each year among the community at Newbury and we are extremely grateful to Shaikh Hamdan for his continuous support, without which, this would not be possible.
“The DIAR is a great showcase for Arabian racing and we wish it all the success. We are just a host, but a very proud host given the overall attractiveness of such an event.”
Amanda Smith, Head of the Arabian Racing Organisation, under whose guidance the DIAR is held, also thanked Shaikh Hamdan for his continued support and extolled the new initiatives of the DIAR committee to further promote Arabian racing and in particular the raceday at Newbury.
“We are absolutely delighted that this has been rewarded by an increase in overseas entries, which total 26, an increase by more that 50 per cent in previous years, particularly in the feature event of the afternoon, the Group 1 Shadwell Dubai International Stakes, where overseas participants are almost double that of 2015.”
Also present at the press conference was Abdulla Al Ansari, a key member of the DIAR’s organising committee, Richard Lancaster, Head of Shaikh Hamdan’s Shadwell breeding operation and Shareef Al Halawani, Manager Jebel Ali Racecourse, one of the main sponsors.
