Los Angeles Awards Brings Honors to Arabian Racing
Scott and Lori Powell
jockey Keiber Coa (Paddys Day)
7 April 2018, Hollywood, California, USA ~ Owner-trainer Scott Powell and breeder-owners Betty and Joseph Gillis dominated the night of awards as the Arabian Racing Cup and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival celebrated the Purebred Arabian horse racing industry at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Friday, 6 April 2018.
In a ceremony broadcast by Yas TV in both English and Arabic, Co-Host, Derek Thompson called Scott and Lori Powell to the stage to accept numerous awards for their horse Paddys Day. Still in transit after competing in the Dubai World Cup Kahayla Classic, the 7-year-old gained multiple honors in the US Darley Awards as Best Older Horse and took the coveted Horse of the Year Award at the dazzling event attended by upwards of 600 international guests.
When Ivory Shores was named Best Older Mare in both the US and the International categories, Powell and family were once again in the stage limelight.
Betty and Joseph Gillis were named Best Breeder and Best Owner in the US Darley Awards and took Best Breeder Award in the HH Sheikha Fatima Awards.
With decades of contribution to Arabian horse racing in many countries, UK’s Val Bunting was greeted with loud cheers as she was awarded the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Life-time Achievement Award, and the youngest winner, 16 year-old Uruguayan Endurance rider Pilar Saravia, received the Best Endurance award.
In Opening statements, Los Angeles based UAE embassy attache HE Al Subose highlighted the role played by the Festival in promoting the tradition of the Arabian horse around the world and the positive connections and friendships that have been the beneficial result. He spoke of the wisdom of the UAE father and founder, the late HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to bring the Emirates together to build a successful nation and the Sheikh’s love for the Arabian horse.
Continuing the Festival weekend, on Saturday, 7 April, the HH Sheikha Bint Mubarak Darley International Stakes $100,000 Gr 1 will be run at Santa Anita race course on the card with the $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby.
Festival Director Lara Sawaya commented: “Two Grade 1 (Group 1) races – the $1 million Santa Anita Derby which is a Kentucky Derby prep race and the Santa Anita Oaks – will be supported by another Grade 2 and Grade 3 race with the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley International Awards Stakes being the final event in a card of 13 races.”
“A record crowd of over 40,000 is expected on race day and all of them will get to see the racing ability of the Purebred Arabians in our race and this is a huge boost for all connected with Arabian racing,” she added.
Trainer Jerenesto Torrez is strongly represented in the race by Easter Man, Quick Sand AA and RB Nash.
On Sunday, April 8, the Arabian Racing Cup (ARC) Board of Stewards led by Michelle Morgan will present the 25th Annual ARC Darley Stallion Auction featuring select international sires at a Gala Dinner to be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
2018 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley (Ladies) International Award Winners
Best Breeder: Betty J. Gillis (USA)
Best Owner: Ms. Aisha Bint Yousuf Al Balushi (Oman)
Best Trainer: Mrs. Beverly Deutrom (Great Britain)
Best Professional jockey: Natalia Hendzel (Poland)
Best Amateur Jockey: Alice Bertiaux (Belgium
Best Apprentice jockey: Alexandra Bihari (Hungary
Best 3-year-old filly: Bint Grine (Morocco)
Best 3-4 year-old filly: Muneera (France)
Best Older mare: Ivory Shores (USA)
Best Journalist: Evie Tubbs Sweeney (USA)
Best TV Presenter: Amanda Roxborough (USA)
Best Photographer: Hedwig Allmuth (Algeria)
Best Endurance Rider: Pilar Saravia (Uruguay)
Life-time Achievement: Mrs. Val Bunting (France)
2018 USA Darley Awards (for performances in the year 2017)
Best 3-year-old colt/gelding: RB Hot Gate
Best 3-year-old filly: Uptown Sandy Girl
Best 4-year-old colt/gelding: RB Nash
Best 4-year-old filly: Sweet Honey AA
Best Older Mare: Ivory Shores
Best Older Horse: Paddys Day
Best Breeder: Joseph & Betty J Gillis
Best Owner: Joseph & Betty J Gillis
Best Trainer: Jernesto Torrez
Best Jockey: Keiber Coa
Special new breeder award: Hendrix and Lettie Smelding
Special new Owner Award: Lynn Bennett
Horse of the Year: Paddys Day
The HH Sheikh Mansoor 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 carrier, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Nissan Middleast Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, , 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 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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