Owners, breeders and trainers of the Purebred Arabians are set to benefit from the increase in prize monies by almost 100 per cent to Dh15 million for the 15 race meetings in Abu Dhabi in the 2014/15 calendar.
The majority of the races in Abu Dhabi are for the Arabians and it includes a 200 per cent rise for their flagship race, the President of the UAE Cup, to Dh3m with a substantial increase for the races all round.
"It is big increase of the prize money we have had for it previously. It was forthcoming, though, to encourage and provide the incentive for those involved in Arabian racing," said Pat Buckley, racing manager for the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
“It encourages more people to participate. Most people own the Arabian horse … for fun, but nevertheless they can do well with some extra money from the winnings.”
Abu Dhabi is the unofficial headquarters for Arabian racing, and they have also taken it to international levels through the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Global Flat Racing Festival.
The Sheikh Mansour Festival race series is staged across Europe and the United States during the summer and culminates with the final in the opening meeting in Abu Dhabi on November 9.
The finals of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and both the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and the Apprentice Championship provide an international flavour and a gala opening card at the capital’s track.
The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup has been upgraded to Group 3 from Prestige status and the prize money raised to Dh420,000.
The Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak races for both the female and apprentice jockeys remain as Prestige status but benefit from a substantial increase in the prize monies, to Dh200,000 and Dh150,000, respectively.
Also, prizes for maiden races have been increased from Dh50,000 to Dh80,000.
Apart from the President of the UAE Cup, the other Group 1 prizes on offer at the capital’s meetings are the National Day Cup, Liwa Oasis and the Emirates Championship, the feature race in Abu Dhabi’s final meeting for which the prize money has been raised from Dh200,000 to Dh1m.
Usually, the six-race card in Abu Dhabi is made up of five races for Arabians and a solitary event for the thoroughbreds, including the equivalent of the President of the UAE Cup, National Day Cup and the Abu Dhabi Championship.
Al Ain have been granted four additional meetings following a successful first season.
It means the Garden City track will hold 10 meetings, and the emirate of Abu Dhabi will stage a combined 25 meetings.
apassela@thenational.ae
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