HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival – sponsored Awards at Dolby Theater in Hollywood
1 April 2017, Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Naziq was named the ‘Best 4-year-old filly’ in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley (International) Awards while Scott Powell and his Champion Purebred Arabian race horse Paddys Day along with US owner-breeders Betty and Joe Gillis and US breeder Dianne Waldron stole the limelight at the 2016 US Darley Awards at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Friday night, 31 March.
Once again the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival along with the Stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup put together a dazzling Award Ceremony at the very same venue where the Oscars was held just three weeks ago.
The Purebred Arabian fraternity was given star treatment walking the red-carpet at the famous Dolby Theater while the ceremony never faltered with racing commentators Derek Thompson (UK) and Victoria Shaw (AUS) as presenters with some innovative ‘Drone-dancing’ on the sidelines of the laser-lit theatre.
It was no surprise as Paddys Day scooped the Horse of the Year and the Best Older Horse awards while his owner Scott Powell was named Trainer of the Year in the 2016 US Darley Awards. The Awards did not forget those who have supported Arabian racing for many years, and the 2016 US Darley Awards honored Betty and Joe Gillis for their decades of work by awarding them both the Best Owner and Best Breeder while their horses – Easterman (4-year-old Colt) and Dream Pearl (Older Mare) – wqere named Best in their respective categories.
One of America’s top Purebred Arabian breeders, Dianne Waldron, who shared her joy with her daughter and grandchildren, took multiple awards with RB Nash winning 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding), RB Kinkie , 3-Year-Old Filly, and RB Madymoiselle 4-Year-Old Filly for RoseBrook Farms. Waldron also won the coveted Best Breeder in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley (International) Awards later in the evening.
Earlier HE Abdulla Al Subose, UAE Consul General in Los Angeles, HE Aref Al Awani representing Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of International Promotion at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Edward Hamod, General Manager of National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Sami Al Boeinain – IFAHR Chairman, 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), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Michelle Morgan, ARC Chief Steward, welcomed the 1000-plus audience at the famous Hollywood venue.
The Awards were received with great fanfare as some of the winners came from Hong Kong, Algeria, Sweden, France, The Netherlands, Poland, USA, UK and Turkey.
Poland’s Doruta Kaluba’s efforts in promoting Purebred Arabian horse racing was rewarded with the Life Time Achievement Award while Sylvine Al Maury- winner of the Best 4-year-old last year- was named best Older Mare this year in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley (International) Awards.
UAE Consul General in Los Angeles, HE Abudulla Al Subose, HE Aref Al Awani representing Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of International Promotion at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Edward Hamod, General Manager of National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Sami Al Boeinain – IFAHR Chairman, 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), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Michelle Morgan, Arabian Racing Cup (ARC) Chief Steward welcomed the 1000-plus audience at the famous Hollywood venue. The VIP guests along with the Arabian Racing Cup Stewards of the Arabian Racing Club gave away the awards.
HH Monsoor 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 Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii 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, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, 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.
The winners of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley (International) Awards
Best 3-Year-Old Filly: Amirat Esahra (Algeria)
Best 4-Year-Old Filly: Naziq (France)
Best Older Mare: Sylvine Al Maury (France)
Best Lady Amateur Jockey: Ms Cindy Klinkenberg (The Netherlands)
Best Lady Apprentice Jockey: Kei Chiong Ka-Kei (Hong Kong)
Best Lady Professional Jockey: Ms Anna Pilroth (Sweden)
Best Lady Breeder: Mrs Dianne Waldron (USA)
Best Lady Owner: Mrs Deniz Kurtel (Turkey)
Best Lady Trainer: Mrs Jean-Francois Bernard (France)
Best Lady Photographer: Mrs Debbie Burt (UK)
Best Lady TV Presenter: Josephine Chini (Sweden)
Best Lady Journalist: Stephanie Corum (USA)
Best Lady Endurance Rider: Mercedes Tapia (Argentina)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mrs Dorota Kaluba (Poland)
The 2016 USA Darley Award winners:
3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: RB Nash
3-Year-Old Filly: RB Kinkie
4-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Easter Man
4-Year-Old Filly: RB Madymoiselle
Older Horse: Paddys Day
Older Mare: Dream Pearl
Breeder: Betty Gillis and Joseph A
Owner: Betty Gillis and Joseph A
Trainer: Scott Powell
Jockey: Ricardo Chiappe
Horse of the Year: Paddys Day
~End