UAE horse racing will continue behind closed doors due to coronavirus

Next four meetings – at Meydan, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali – set to go ahead without spectators, says the Emirates Racing Authority

Jockey Richard Mullen is closing in on the 500-winner mark in the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Horse racing in the UAE will continue to take place behind closed doors due to concern over the spread of the coronavirus.

The Emirates Racing Authority announced the next four meetings at Meydan, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi from Thursday to Saturday, and Jebel Ali on March 20, will take place without the public attending.

The ERA are monitoring the Covid-19 situation and are expected to make a call on whether the silver jubilee Dubai World Cup will go ahead on March 28, even if it is behind closed doors.

Meydan, meanwhile, kicks off the weekend's meeting with a six-race all-thoroughbred card.

One man who will be on the spotlight at Meydan is Richard Mullen, who is three winners away from reaching the 500-winner mark.

If Mullen achieves that milestone in the next few meetings he will become only the third jockey to achieve the figure in the UAE after Tadhg O’Shea, who is out in front on his own with 551, and the now retired Richard Hills's 504.

Mullen rides in all six races and with Satish Seemar’s horses in fine fettle the Zabeel Stables jockey appears to have strong claims on board Underwriter, Speedy Move and Welford.

Underwriter has twice come close in four starts to break his maiden tag, and he’s drawn in Gate 1 to be fifth time lucky.

Speedy Move has to deal with a wide draw from Gate 13 in the 15-runner field and Welford went down by a neck in his most recent start on the turf in Abu Dhabi.

Friday’s card, for both Purebred Arabians and thoroughbreds, include the Al Ain Derby and the final leg of the Al Ain Marathon Series, both races with Prestige status.

Abu Dhabi’s penultimate meeting is the highlight of the three races that include the Dh1-million Group 1 Emirates Championship, Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown, UAE Arabian Derby and the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship for the thoroughbreds.

The ERA have also approved an additional meeting at Jebel Ali on April 3, and the meeting scheduled for that day at Meydan has now been moved to April 4.