6 January 2015, Dubai, UAE ~ The Executive Committee of the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) met at the Meydan racecourse on Thursday, 5 January to discuss a proposed IFAHR International Agreement.

“We are grateful to HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Emirates Racing Authority under the auspices of whom the meeting was held,” said Sami Jassim Al Boenain, General Manager of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and Chairman of IFAHR executive board.

“Above all, it was a great opportunity for us to open links with the UAE’s horse racing governing body, Emirates Racing Association, and meet at Meydan, the venue of the Dubai Kahayla Classic Gr-1, the prestigious Arabian horse race which is staged as part of the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup Gr-1,” he said.

Speaking about the outcome of the meeting, Al Boenain said: “The members of the Executive Committee have discussed among other issues on the agenda, the proposed IFAHR International Agreement which aims to find a common set of standards that most countries can agree upon between them. Also, the members of the Executive Committee will return to Meydan on March 28 to attend the Dubai Kahayla Classic on the Dubai World Cup night,” the IFAHR chief stated.

Mats Genberg, Secretary of IFAHR and Executive Board member of IFAHR added that they have received so far the approval from most of IFAHR’s 30 member countries for the IFAHR International Agreement. We would like to clarify that not all of the articles of the new law are mandatory and it’s up to the member country to accept them in full or in part.”

Regarding the long-standing demand for a data base, Genberg confirmed that they are in the process of setting up a new website which will contain a complete data base for all Arabian horses from around the globe. “This problem will be solved soon,” he said.

The UAE’s representative in the IFAHR board Ahmed Al Hammadi thanked HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan for hosting the executive committee meeting and noted that they will work in close coordination with the ERA to further promote Purebred Arabian horse races within the UAE.

“UAE is hosting the biggest number of Arabian races in the world at the five main venues including Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Meydan, Jebel Ali Race Course, Sharjah Equestrian Club and Al Ain Racecourse,” he said.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said: “I have briefed the meeting of the official declaration and registration of the new body, the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) with the authorities in the UAE with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. “IFHRA has already held its General Assembly and elected its board members and is set to meet next week at the East Mangroves Hotel in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the HH the President’s Cup Endurance ride.”

“The members of the board will also attend the Dubai Kahayla Classic in Meydan on Dubai World Cup day. Moreover, the members of both organizations, IFAHR AND IFHRA are also invited to attend the new version of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (the National Day Cup), the world’s richest Purebred Arabian horse race to be staged under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club later this year.”

30 Member Countries

IFAHR works to enhance cooperation among all Arabian horseracing authorities worldwide and is concerned with considering matters related to purebred Arabian horseracing and movement between countries. Chaired by Sami Jassim Al Boenain, IFAHR General Assembly was held on the sidelines of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October 2014. IFAHR has in its membership many countries organizing purebred Arabian races worldwide.

IFAHR has 30 member states representing the world’s six continents and the most recent members are Iran and Portugal. IFAHR Executive Committee consists of eight members from Qatar, the UAE, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Turkey and Syria.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

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