Newbury, England: Organisers of the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) have confirmed that the all-Arabian showpiece now has a permanent place on the racing calendar and will be staged at Newbury Racecourse in the UK on the fourth Sunday in July for the next three years.
European Purebred Arabian racing’s most prestigious event has been shuffled around the UK’s annual Arabian racing fixtures in recent years, with the blue-riband event even being pushed back to August. But the changeability has been addressed and it will now be staged at a regular time of year.
Sportsguide’s Philip Brannan, who assists the organisers in planning the eight-race card each year, made the announcement at Newbury earlier this week.
“We are pleased to confirm that the Dubai International Arabian Races will now be held on the last Sunday in July, over the next three-year term,” he said.
“This will obviously go a long way to helping owners, trainers and jockeys from around the UK and Europe to prepare their horses for the event. As a result, I’m sure that we will see more Arabians coming to Newbury in the future.
“The unique thing about the Dubai International Arabian Races is that it caters to all levels of horses — Group 1 to handicappers, which is very important for the growth of the sport.”
The absence of a permanent date on the Arabian calendar has not just impacted on the races themselves, but also the attendance, with the organisers aspiring to attract an average of around 10,000 racegoers each year.
The late-July date will be boosted by the fact that it is the first weekend of the local school holidays and as a result will help organisers attract more youngsters, who are seen as the future generation of racegoers.
