October 10, 2013, Abu Dhabi ~ The dates for the UAE’s 2013-2014 racing season have been approved by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA).

The new season’s inaugural day of racing will be held at the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday, November 1, 2013, and will be followed by the Sharjah Racecourse’s first date, on Saturday, November 2.  The first meeting at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse will take place on Thursday, November 7, and Abu Dhabi’s season gets underway at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday, November 10. A newcomer to the UAE’s racing calendar, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club will see its first racing of the season on Friday January 31.

Meydan Racecourse hosts its first meeting of the new season on Thursday November 7, 2013, kicking off a 141-day countdown to the US$10m Dubai World Cup held on Saturday March 29, 2014. Meydan’s five-month long season encompasses nine Racing at Meydan meetings as well as 11 big-money Dubai World Cup Carnival meetings, culminating in the  nine-race, US$27.25m Dubai World Cup day.

HE Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, the ERA Board’s Vice Chairman, said the new season would include 57 races in total, representing an increase of five races over the previous season. Of the new season’s races, 15 days will be held at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, while Al Nakheel Equestrian Club will host five race days in Al Ain. Meydan Racecourse will see the most horse racing action with 20 days, while Jebel Ali Racecourse will host 11 dates and the Sharjah Racecourse will be home to six days of racing.

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