6th WAHRC ends on a positive note in Warsaw
31 May 2015, Warsaw, Poland ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s 6th World Arabian Horse Conference at the Ufficio Primo in Warsaw came to a close on Saturday, 30 May, with a lively Workshop during which a series of announcements were made.
The Workshop was the final meeting of the Conference. The lively session was conducted by Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and noted TV race presenter Derek Thompson, and produced frank and healthy exchanges between delegates.
Top of the list was the frustration of owners/breeders with regard to changing criteria for running horses in other countries. It was decided that a concerted effort will be put forward by the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) to coordinate with the World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO) with regard to encouraging uniformity of rules to enable free movement of horses and other aspects dealing with Stud Books.
Ms Sawaya urged the nearly two dozen-strong UAE owners and breeders to meet as a group under the umbrella of the Festival that will help them find solutions to issues such as transportation of horses between GCC countries and issues regarding handicapping.
Ms Sawaya urged the UK Arabian racing officials to ensure that Purebred Arabian races in the UK were included in live TV coverage as well as in betting houses.
The various Arabian bodies of the USA were urged to make a united effort in promoting Purebred Arabian racing and Ms Sawaya announced a new race to be run during the annual HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Awards and the USA Darley Awards.
“We are happy to announce another big race event and this time it will be held on the sidelines of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Awards and the USA Darley Awards. The race will be run in the name of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Mother of the World,” said Sawaya.
This Open race for Purebred Arabians will be held in Los Angeles on 3 April, 2016, and will carry a prize fund of US $50,000.
The members of IFAHR were urged to take a decision on the IFAHR International Agreement that has been sent out. The agreement allows each member country to choose which articles/information they can agree or accept. These articles handle such matters as equine travel requirements, pedigree rulings in regard to racing, prize money, etc. When published they will be available for all to see in order to plan racing campaigns and future cross-country engagements.
Ms Sawaya said the IFAHR member-countries must take a decision on whether to sign in full or in part or not at all and she urged them to do this as soon as possible.
Earlier in the morning, an optimistic outlook was shared by William Smith (UK), Pat Buckley, Ms Lara Sawaya, Ahmed Abdelrazek (Egypt), Sam Vasquez (USA) and Kishore Mirpuri (Poland) on the future of Arabian Racing in the light of the surrounding circumstances. The session was moderated by Philip Brannan from UK.
Finally the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference pledged to do everything possible in a united effort to ensure the Purebred Arabian horse is protected and the Arabian racing is promoted effectively.
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 in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.
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