19 February 2019, Abu Dhabi,UAE ~ The calendar for the 2019 edition of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival was unveiled on Sunday with a total of 124 races scheduled in 90 countries around the globe.
Addressing a press conference at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse on 17 February 2019, Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Dr. Abdullah Al Raisi, Director General of the National Archives, Aref Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Faisal Al Rahmani, IFAHR President, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of Global Promotions-Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, and representatives from Sponsors.
“The Festival’s 2019 calendar includes 10 races in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series, eight races in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship series, 10 in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship series and 13 in the HH Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Pony Championship series,” Ms. Lara Sawaya said.
Sawaya added: “The Festival’s 2019 calendar includes 10 races in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series, eight races in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship series, 10 in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship series and 13 in the HH Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Pony Championship series.”
Other Top Events
The Wathba Stallions Cup will once again focus on the grassroots level and 30 races will be held in the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain) while another 50 races will be staged outside the country with 20 of these in France and two in California, USA.
The World Arabian Horse Racing Forum will be held in Romania from July 2 to 8, 2019.
The 2019 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Stakes race in Santa Anita, California, will carry a prize fund of US$ 50,000 and will be run on the Derby day.
Endurance races for 2019 include the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup race Al Wathba Land on 22 February, followed by the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan race on February 23.
WORLD’s RICHEST RACE FOR ARABIAN HORSES
The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Group 1), the world’s richest race for Purebred Arabians will be held on November 24 and this year obliging requests from owners and connections a prep race has been scheduled for October 25 in Abu Dhabi.
The Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International awards will also be held along with the Conference on Training for jockeys at the year end date.
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