Dubai: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, is well-regarded as one of flat racing’s biggest patrons. His passion for flat racing has been well documented over the past three decades, through his roles as a leading owner and breeder of some of the world’s best thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian racehorses with his Shadwell operation.
On Friday, Shaikh Hamdan extends his support of the sport to Ayr’s historic Gold Cup meeting where he supports three of the afternoon’s eight races, including the Al Maktoum College Nursery Handicap over six furlongs, the exciting five-furlong Shadwell Stud/EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes and the UAE handicap over a challenging two mile and one furlong.
It will mark the second successive year that Shaikh Hamdan, a long-time patron of British racing, has shown his support for racing at the historic venue.
Highlighting Shaikh Hamdan’s commitment to the cause of promoting racing in Scotland, and around the world, Shadwell’s Chairman Mirza Al Sayegh said: “Shaikh Hamdan has been involved with the sport for the past 30 years, as an owner, breeder and promoter.
“His support for managing and promoting horse racing comes naturally, and Scotland seemed a perfect choice following a meeting with the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond.
“Salmond praised Shaikh Hamdan’s untiring efforts to promote horse racing through which he created careers and job opportunities for thousands of Britons, and enquired if he would like to sponsor a race at Ayr.
“Shaikh Hamdan was fascinated by the proposal and without hesitation agreed. As a result last year’s running of the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes was run under the sponsorship of Shadwell Stud,” Al Sayegh added.
The race is one of the highlights of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival which was established in 1804 and is the principal meeting of the season at the venue.
Al Sayegh also revealed that discussions were taking place to look at the possibility of Shaikh Hamdan sponsoring the entire program at the Festival in the future.
“Shaikh Hamdan has the best interests of the sport at heart and, together with his worldwide sponsorship, he hopes to change the way that the sport is promoted and help it gain more credibility,” he said.
Shaikh Hamdan is the creator and driving force of the Dubai International Arabian Race Day at Newbury, one of the biggest and most eagerly awaited race meetings for Purebred Arabians. He is also a strong supporter of racing at the Jebel Ali Racecourse in Dubai where his Shadwell thoroughbred breeding operation has supported feature race during the UAE flat racing season.
