16 May 2015, UK ~ The Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC) was founded on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin ZayedAl Nahyan. The club is for people with a passion for racing and the Purebred Arabian horse. The purpose of this Club is to support and promote racing for those who wish to preserve the Purebred Arabian of traditional type and bloodlines and to ensure the long-term future of Arabian horse characteristics, in the broadest terms, with the hallmarks of beauty, athletic ability, soundness and versatility.

HARC recognizes that enormous strides have been made in Arabian racing through the use of highly selected bloodlines. However some enthusiasts, who value the beauty and all-round athleticism of the traditional Arabian horse, have left the sport of racing. It is the aim of the HARC to welcome them back.

HARC sponsored races are being held this year in Australia, Brazil, Poland, Tunisia and Russia, whilst bonuses will be paid to HARC horses in certain races in USA and UK. The HARC Bonus Scheme will run alongside all of ARO’s Domestic Purebred Arabian races. HARC eligible horses would win this bonus money according to where they are placed in the race; giving them an opportunity to win extra prize money almost every time they race.

The long-term aim of this scheme is to encourage Owners and Breeders of traditionally bred Arabians back into the sport of horse racing.

ARO would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his generosity and vision to create the Heritage Arabian Racing Club.

In due course ARO will publish a list of all HARC qualified horses currently registered with ARO.  Meanwhile any enquiries relating to the HARC bonus scheme in the UK should be directed to the ARO Office: [email protected]

The founding member countries of HARC are: Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Poland, Russia,Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States of America. A Steering Committee has been formed to finalise a constitution and the definition of a HARC racehorse, this work should be completed over the next few months. Meanwhile the Committee is looking at ways to immediately begin to promote the Club and its activities. The Steering Committee consists of Mr Anthony Mountney (Australia) Mr Almir Ribeiro (Brazil) Mr Ahmed Abdelrazik (Egypt) Ms Deirdre Hyde (UAE) Mrs Kathy Smoke (USA).

~ends