Dubai: UAE-owned camels swept all the big prizes on day three of the Al Marmoum Heritage Festival which featured races exclusively for the hybrid Laqaya breed.
The evening session of 18 races saw some strong competition in the Abkar (Female) and Jeadan (Male) categories where the winners of the opening two contests received a prestigious trophy and a cash prize of Dh500,00 each.
The third and fourth races earned their tribesmen owners a special rifle and Dh400,000 in cash.
In attendance was Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, Shaikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to the The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation; Shaikh Majid Bin Jabr Al Sabah, and Ali Saeed Bin Saroud, CEO of DCRC of Al Marmoum Smart Camel Racing Track.
The first race of the evening, for female camels, was won by Moteebah (which means Nuisance), who is owned by Mohammad Matar Zayed Al Manouri. Moteebah covered the 5lm distance in a time of 07:19:00 minutes.
Mihna (Ordeal) owned by Ahmad Matar Majid Al Khaili crossed the finish line in a time of 07:15:30 minutes to win the second race and ensure the Dh500,000 prize for her proud owner.
Nayef (The Topmost) claimed the honour of winning the first of the races for male camels and clocked a time of 07:28:80 minutes. His owner Saeed Sultan Matar Markhan won a rifle and Dh400,000.
The fourth race offering a prize of a rifle and Dh400,000 also went to Margam Village, whose racing camel Shaaim (Generous), owned by Matar Sultan Obaid Markhan, won in a time of 07:20:51 minutes,
The uncatchable Sadeeh (The Soft Fog), owned by Ali Hamad Salim Mohammad Bakheet Al Marie, registered the best time when covering the 5km distance in 07:19:30 minutes.
The evening race of 18 rounds was also allocated for the Tribesmen’s local and hybrid Laqaya category.
The race started at 2.30pm, with the first four races offering the richest prizes. The first and second races were allocated for the she-camels — Abkar, while the third and fourth races were allocated for the he-camels — Jeadan.
The first and the second winner claimed a trophy and Dh500,000 each. The third and fourth winners got a rifle and Dh400,000 each.
All the four richest races were won by UAE owners, whose camels turned in superb performances.
The Al Marmoum Heritage Village has also continued attracting more visitors and tourists — who were earlier in the day entertained in 28 well-contested races.
The first race was won by the the female camel Sawahil (Coasts) who won her owner the prestigious Late Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Trophy and Dh500,000. The winner, who is owned by Mohammad Sewaih Bin Al Alouba, crossed the finish line in 07:27:00 minutes.
The second biggest purse was won by Samha (Beautiful) whose owner Abdullah Ahmad Mohammad Hadfa Al Amrie was delighted to receive the second trophy in the name of the late Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and a cash prize of Dh500,000. The winning time was 07:29:30 minutes.
The third title offering a prize of a rifle and Dh400,000 was won by the strong male camel Urgent, owned by Mohammad Suhail Daleela Al Amrie. The winning time was 07:26:80 minutes.
Race No.10 witnessed a display of speed by Shaheen (Gray Falcon) owned by Mohammad Abdullah Bin Shemaile Al Katabi, who registered the best timing of the session, taking 07:15:10 minutes to complete the 5km.
