Glittering ceremony on the stage at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater
31 March 2016 ~ It is appropriately dubbed as the ‘Oscars’ of Arabian Racing- the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Arabian Awards and the US Darley Awards – which will light up the Dolby Theater in, Hollywood, California, on Friday, 1 April 2016.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival has elevated the annual US awards for Purebred Arabian horses and their connections to an international level since joining as partners with the Darleys, and the addition of the Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Arabian Awards awards women in racing on the global stage.
Apart from recognition for the leading Purebred Arabian filly and mare for their worldwide achievements in 2015, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Arabian Awards includes awards for lady achievers in many fields connected with Arabian racing. The 2016 edition has introduced a category for Special Contribution. In addition, in order to make it a more level-playing field, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Arabian Awards will now have three categories for jockeys: Best Professional jockey, Best Apprentice jockey and Best Apprentice Jockey.
The categories in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Arabian Awards are:
Best Breeder
Best Owner
Best Trainer
Best Professional Jockey
Best Amateur Jockey
Best Apprentice Jockey
Best 3-Year-Old Filly
Best 4-Year-Old Filly
Best Mare
Best TV Presenter
Best Journalist
Best Photographer
Best Endurance Rider
Lifetime Achievement Award
Special Recognition Award
THE US DARLEY AWARD categories are:
Horse Of The Year & Best Older Horse
Best 3-Year-Old Colt Or Gelding
Best 3-Year-Old Filly
Best 4-Year-Old Colt Or Gelding
Best 4-Year-Old Filly
Best Jockey
Best Trainer
Best Breeder
Best Owner
Commenting on the three-day extravaganza which is now one of the highlights of the annual calendar of events organized by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said:
“Preparations are complete and the Festival prides itself in spotting great achievements on and off the tracks by the connections and recognizing their contributions through these annual awards. Every year we have been adding to make this event bigger and better and this year, apart from creating a new category for Apprentice jockeys, we have also announced the US $100,000 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Award Stakes for Purebred Arabian horses at the Santa Anita Park race course,” Ms Sawaya said. “This year we have also introduced a category for ‘Special Recognition’ and also added two more categories for the jockeys.”
“While the cream of the Purebred Arabian fraternity of the United States will be attending the three-day event, we have also invited guests from all over the world to participate in this awards ceremony which will be held again at the Dolby Theatre – the same venue which hosts the Hollywood Oscars!”
“We have to thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, for his initiative and support and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for her continuous focus on the betterment of women in general and those in equestrian events in particular,” Sawaya concluded.
Mrs.Denise Gault, Chief Steward of the Arabian Racing Cup, said: “We have already announced the nominees for the coveted USA Darley Awards. These nominees were selected by the Cup Stewards as the best of Arabian Racing in the US for the year 2015. The Darley Voting Academy reviewed detailed statistics and performance data from the Arabian Jockey Club regarding the nominees and cast their votes via confidential ballots.”
“After the awards on Friday and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Award Stakes race on Saturday, the Celebration Banquet on Sunday evening, April 3, will include the annual stallion breeding auction will be held at the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel,” she added.