Gabriel Jr all praise for Carnival

Dubai: The steady growth of the Dubai Racing Carnival has benefited racing in Dubai, a top racing official here said yesterday.

"The Dubai Racing Carnival has grown very fast in a matter of just three years. This, in turn, has helped the growth of thoroughbred racing here," noted Frank Gabriel Jr, CEO of the Dubai Racing Club (DRC).

"During the first year of the Carnival, we had just 75 horses. This time, we are in the third year and we have more than 220. This only goes to show how the Carnival has grown in leaps and bounds," Gabriel observed.

"And along with the size of the Carnival, the level of competition has also grown," said Gabriel Jr, who has brought in a fresh sense of purpose at the DRC.

"I'm never the one who wants to be in the limelight," he said. "But I am a perfectionist and I believe in just working together as a team, communicating and connecting with others at all times as equals."

Gabriel Jr is seen as one of the main operators at the DRC, having the requisite knowledge and leadership capabilities to continue with the club's expansion work.

"I remember watching the first Dubai World Cup in 1996 and it is incredible just how far the event has come in 10 years," he recalled.

"We are very excited about the World Cup this year as we have some great fields and good competitions lined up. We are surely hoping for a great day on Saturday."

Gabriel Jr, who has more than three decades of experience in racing, joined the DRC in October last year.

He had spent the last 16 years at Arlington Park in Chicago, USA, where he was executive vice-president of racing and also the racing secretary.

From 1998 to 1999, Gabriel Jr was also the director of racing at New York Racing Association, after having risen through the ranks at several American racecourses.