Doncaster Welcomes President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby)

Huge Boost for UK Arabian Racing

aro26 July 2016, UK ~ The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is pleased to announce that the President of the UAE Cup will resume its’ association with the UK Arabian Derby, which is to be run at Doncaster as part of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival on Thursday 8 September. The President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) is a Group 1 contest for four-year-old Purebred Arabians, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and boasting a prize fund of £100,000, a huge increase on previous years.

Faisal Al Rahmani, General Secretary for the President of the UAE Cup Program, commented. “We are delighted to bring the President of the UAE Cup series back to Britain, giving the UK Arabian Derby the prominence it deserves. The series was established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to promote and celebrate the Arabian horse worldwide and its’ significant place in UAE culture and history. What better way to do this than to hold the race at the same Festival as Britain’s oldest Thoroughbred Classic, the St Leger, as the Purebred Arabian was the foundation on which the modern Thoroughbred was based. ”

ARC Chief Executive, Martin Cruddace said, “We are delighted to be hosting ARO and welcoming the President of the UAE series to Doncaster as part of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival. The race is an important part of Ladies Day and with a £100,000 prize fund is bound to be a competitive race. We wish everyone involved the best of luck.”

ARO Director, Genny Haynes was thrilled, saying, “We are excited to welcome back the President of the UAE Cup and are extremely grateful to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their generous support of our feature race for four-year-olds. The series last sponsored the 2013 UK Arabian Derby when it was run at Newmarket as part of the July Festival meeting. In addition, there is a travel concession for runners traveling from outside Great Britain.”

Haynes continued. “This is a truly significant development for the sport of Arabian racing in the UK as the increased prize fund will secure our position further within the European Pattern Race Calendar and ensure top quality Purebred Arabian racing maintains its foothold in Britain. I’m sure we will attract a strong international field, further enhancing the status of Arabian racing in the UK, with it being run as part of Doncaster’s most prestigious meeting of the year.”

~ end report