Dubai: Luxury Swiss watchmaker and Meydan Pillar Partner, Longines makes a return to Meydan Racecourse on Thursday as sponsors of the third race meeting of the new season.
The brand presents a six-race card, worth Dh880,000 in prize money and sees Purebred Arabians make a seasonal debut at Meydan with the Dh160,000 Mazrat Al Ruwayyah Prep race held over a mile kicking off the evening.
The Thoroughbred races are highlighted by the featured Longines Master Collection also held over the mile and worth Dh170,000.
As well as being a major presence at the track during the Racing at Meydan season, Longines also launches the Dubai World Cup Carnival with a valuable card highlighted by the two Al Maktoum Challenge R1 races — one for Purebred Arabians and one for Thoroughbreds on Thursday January 7, 2016.
The brand is an important part of Dubai World Cup day and is represented through the running of the internationally-renowned Group 1 $6 million (Dh22 million) Dubai Sheema Classic presented by Longines on March 26, 2016.
Juan-Carlos Capelli, vice-president of Longines and head of International Marketing, said: “Longines is delighted to pursue its close collaboration with Meydan. As Official Partner and Official Timekeeper of Meydan, our brand is looking forward to a promising 2015-2016 horseracing season.
“We would like to express our thanks to Meydan for their trust and we are proud to provide our timekeeping expertise to their events. Longines’ history in equestrian sports dates back to 1878 and since then, we have never ceased to deepen our involvement in this world. We are therefore very pleased to share this passion with Meydan”.
Malih Al Basti, Meydan Group Board Member and Chairman of the Meydan Racing Committee, said: “Longines’ long-term sponsorship of our racing season is demonstrative of the brand’s commitment to the development of the sport in Dubai. Longines is a name associated with many of the world’s very best race meetings and equestrian sports and we are proud to welcome them to Meydan each season.”
