The European Purebred Arabian programme is set for an overhaul as the full impact of only four runners in the Dubai International Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on Sunday sinks in.
Genny Haynes, the vice chairman of the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities, met with Veronique Briat, director of the French Arabian Horseracing Association at Newbury with a view to nailing down a date for pan-European talks on how to sort out the Purebred Arabian calendar.
Read more: Three and easy for Sheikh Hamdan at Newbury for Dubai International Arabian race day
For the second year in succession Deauville Racecourse will host two £50,000 (Dh308,000) races within a week of the British showcase of Purebred Arabian racing, to the detriment of field sizes in all three Group 1 events.
The French racecourse will hold on Saturday the Prix Manganate and the Prix Kesberoy, both Group 1 races and both staged over 2,000 metres.
Field sizes to the Dubai International have waxed and waned over the years. There were as many as 16 runners in 2005 but there were only four runners in 2009. The average field size in Britain last year was 7.6 runners.
Two seasons ago Dubai International day took place in September, when it acted as the natural finale to the British season and worked as a springboard to Longchamp’s lucrative European season-ending Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting on the first weekend of October.
Since then, Doncaster Racecourse has inaugurated the £150,000 Harwood Stakes, which is staged next month under the sponsorship of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, but Haynes does not see that event as a stumbling block to moving Dubai day back to its logical slot as early as next year.
“The Doncaster race is for four-year-olds and upwards over a mile, which is a unique race,” she said. “Most of the big Group 1 races are over 10 furlongs so it should not affect our race. I would love to see Dubai day move back to September.
“We have a Pattern Race Committee whom you have to apply to in order to make any changes. Our application will go to them in November.”
Briat agreed but saw the Group 1 International Malazgirt Trophy, in Istanbul on September 7, and the Group 2 International IFAHR Trophy on the preceding day, as a potential stumbling block to the move.
“I think Dubai day definitely clashes with Deauville,” she said. “It is not helping any of us. I am not sure we will have many runners in Deauville this week.
“I think talks are certain to happen as nobody is happy to see only four runners in the Dubai International. It is the best race of the year so clearly something needs to be done.
“Perhaps there are not enough horses at this level.”
Two seasons ago, when Dubai day was moved to September in order to accommodate Ramadan, there were 90 runners on Dubai day.
Last season, when the card was staged in August on a Thursday night there were just 63. On Sunday, only 62 runners were declared, and 15 of those were in the National Academy Of Indian Payroll Handicap worth £6,000.
According to figures produced by the Arabian Racing Organisation 298 Purebred Arabians were in training in Britain in 2006. Last year there were 253. There was a similar slide in numbers of trainers, owners and riders in that time.
Due to Ramadan, the UK Arabian Derby has been moved this season from its usual July slot to September 25, which means it will be overshadowed by the Arc meeting, which is held two weeks later.
It is clear that now Ramadan will no longer affect either the UK Arabian Derby or Dubai day – Ramadan is June 18 to July 17 in 2015 – the Purebred Arabian calendar can be set in stone from next year for the benefit of owners, trainers, jockeys, media and race-goers.
“The last few years we have had only a handful of runners in the Dubai International Stakes,” trainer Julian Smart said after he secured his double with Taraf and Djainka Des Forges on Sunday. “It just goes to prove there are not enough top-class Purebred Arabians in England.
“I’m a huge believer in staging the race on Sunday and with Sheikh Hamdan [bin Rashid] generously sponsoring the day the free entry is a key part to its continued success.
“It’s all very well blaming the English programme but this is a pan-European problem that needs to be looked at. There must be a better slot for this great event in the calendar.”
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