Horsing around at the Meydan Stable Tour

With the Dubai World Cup 2011 rapidly approaching, now is the time to brush up on all things horsey and the Meydan Stable Tour is the perfect way to do it. Three times a week, visitors have the chance to get up close and personal with some of Dubai's top trainers and racehorses, and get a behind-the-scenes peek at horse racing in Dubai.

Conducted on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the tour takes enthusiastic visitors to a different Dubai Racing Club stable each day, rotating between Satish Seemar's Millenium stable, Musabah Al Muhairi's Oasis 1 and Ali Rashid Al Raihe's Grandstand stable.

Sumptuous start

The tour starts at the Meydan Hotel with a sumptuous buffet breakfast at Ferrier's restaurant.

A bus collects tourgoers at the entrance to the hotel and Christine Gabriel, the knowledgeable guide, gives a brief history of horse racing in the Emirates. With more than 35 years in the horse-racing industry, six of which have been in Dubai, coupled with a bright and outgoing personality, Gabriel is the perfect tour guide, interacting personably with guests as the tour progresses.

My tour was at the Oasis 1 stable of Musabah Al Muhairi, where we are greeted by travelling head lad Maria Ritchie. She takes the tour group into the stables, where we have the chance to say hello to some of the top horses in Dubai, including Snaafy, who won the Jebel Ali Mile on February 4, and Tenor Des Vialettes, who won the UAE Arabian Derby on February 13.

A warm welcome

We are soon joined by trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, who is warm and welcoming, inviting tourgoers to ask questions about the training of the horses. He takes us around the yard, showing us a new treadmill for the horses (which he is kind enough to get on and demonstrate), the weighing scale, the blacksmith area (you can take a used horseshoe home with you for luck) and the rider's room, where he and Ritchie explain some of the equipment that is used on the horses, be it saddles, blinkers or ear plugs. He even invites us into his office, which is stuffed with trophies and photos of his champion horses over the years.

Moving on

From the stables, the tour continues to the Meydan grandstand, with a quick detour via the training track and swimming pools for the horses, which are communally used by the different stables.

The grandstand tour takes visitors into the horse connection lounge and jockey's room, where your average racegoer would never be allowed to stray, and offers a bit of insight into the glamour of a race night. We are then invited into the parade ring, where horses, riders, trainers and jockeys gather ahead of each race at Meydan. And no tour would be complete without a visit to the track for a quick photo.

The tour offers a fascinating insight into the world of horse racing and is a must for anyone interested in horses. I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to experience a bit of the glamour.

Take a tour

The Meydan Stable Tour runs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It starts with breakfast at Ferrier's restaurant at the Meydan Hotel from 8am. The tour costs Dh250 for adults and Dh150 for children (4-12 years), and lasts until 11am. For bookings, e-mail stabletours@meydanhotels.com or call +97143813333. Tours can be booked through to the end of April.