April 5, 2014, Los Angeles ~ The 2013 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Annual Darley Awards Gala dinner held at the Beverly Hills Hotel Dorchester in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 5, was another benchmark that brought the Purebred Arabian international community together. 

Abdulla Ali Al Saboosi, UAE Consular General to the USA at Los Angeles welcomed guests praising the co-operation between the UAE and the United States: “I would like also to thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, for the great initiative to encourage women sports and promote the image of the Arabian horse which represents such an important part of the UAE’s heritage and history.”

The highlight of the evening was the Stallion Auction put forth by the Stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup, with proceeds going to advanced prize money and more opportunities for breeders and owners of Arabian race horses in US races.

Breedings at bid were from racing stars including Al Sakbe owned by Shadwell Stud, the UK arm of the operations of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Dahess, owned by Qatar’s Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; Kaolino, owned by Shadwell Stud, donated by Mandolynn Hill Farm, USA; Line Dancer, owned by Toshkara Arabians, USA; So Big Is Better, Horse of the Year 2013, owned by Mark Powell; TH Richie, owned by Al Awal Stud; Thoroughbred, owned by Guy Neivens, UK; and TM Fred Texas, owned by Al Shaqab Racing.

Denise Gault, Arabian Racing Cup Chief Steward said: “We are once again honored by our main sponsor the Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. We are also obliged to the creative initiative of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak that paved the way for the restoring the value of the Arabian horse worldwide.”

The Stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup and the Arabian Racing Association of California honored Sheikh Mansoor and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak with awards to Lara Sawaya for her continued advancement and support of Arabian racing in the USA.

Sawaya commented: “We are all obliged to HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, for her great initiative and support which has encouraged our success. We are here because of this and will continue our progress to strengthen the Arabian horse in the eyes of the international racing community.”

Photos Morhaf

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