Sport | Horse Racing
Hamdan happy with success of Dubai Summer Festival
Event aimed at widening appeal of Arabian racing is officially launched
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 July 7, 2011
- Image Credit: Supplied
- Mirza Al Sayegh, presenter Derek Thompson and Newbury joint managing director Stephen Higgins announce the special prizes for the Dubai International Race Day.
Newbury, England: The 2011 Dubai Summer Festival, staged under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, has been formally launched at Newbury Racecourse.
The three-day fixture begins on Friday, July 15 and culminates in the 29th running of the International Arabian Race Day, a European showcase for Arabian Racing featuring a host of promotional activities, competitions and free admission for racegoers.
Racing action will be of the highest quality with more than £500,000 (Dh2.94 million) in prize money on offer.
Friday's programme features the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes sponsored by Compton Beauchamp Estates.
On Saturday, the £200,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint, dominated since its inception by Champion Trainer Richard Hannon, shares top billing with the Group 3 Shadwell Stakes while some of the world's best Arabians are set to contest no fewer than three Group 1 events on Sunday.
New audiences
Speaking at the official launch, Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of Shaikh Hamdan's Office, said, "Shaikh Hamdan is delighted with the success of the Dubai Summer Festival. "It has done much to introduce new audiences to Arabian racing and through initiatives like the Colourful Camels competition has helped to promote a better understanding of UAE culture."
Multiculturalism is at the heart of the Al Maktoum College in Dundee, where Shaikh Hamdan is patron and this year graduates of a number of UAE universities who have been studying at the college's summer school will be attending the International Arabian Race Day.
"We are very pleased that approximately 50 of the college's female students are able to join us to witness the International Arabian Race Day which is an event that combines sport and culture and showcases many aspects of the UAE," Al Sayegh added.
Stephen Higgins, joint managing director of Newbury Racecourse, said: "The Dubai Summer Festival is a very important meeting for us.
"Thanks to the generosity of Shaikh Hamdan we are able to introduce many new visitors to the racecourse each year who are encouraged by the unique offer of the International Arabian Race Day."
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