HH Sheikha Fatima Ladies race called off as ice track shows crack
27 February 2017, St Moritz, Switzerland ~ The Sunday, 26 February 2017 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race along with all of the other races on the card to be raced on the frozen lake at St Moritz, Switzerland, were cancelled after a crack was found in the ice track which threatened the safety of the horses and riders.
The race meeting was the third White Turf Race held on a Sunday in St. Moritz and the second race staged under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.
On this third meeting a fall occurred in the first race. After thorough investigation by those responsible for White Turf, they discovered a crack in the ice on the inner rails in the direction of the racetrack, some 150m from the finish line.
“As we could not estimate how conditions on the racecourse would develop, we unfortunately had to call of the race meeting,” said Thomas C. Walther, President of the Management Board of the St. Moritz Racing Association, addressing the participating horsemen and the spectators from the presentation ceremony stand.
The spectators indicated their approval and understanding by applauding this decision. “The safety of the horses and the riders are paramount. There is no danger for spectators anywhere on the lake,” concluded Mr. Walther.
Even after the cancellation of the remaining races, the majority of the spectators numbering approximately 10,000, stayed on the frozen lake and enjoyed the accompanying program as planned, including the official presentation of the trophies to winners of the first two Sunday meetings.
The 2018 White Turf will take place on the first three Sundays in February. The dates: 4 February, 11th February and 18 February 2018.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2017, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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