Dubai: Friends of trainer turned administrator Lord John Fitzgerald, who died earlier this week at his home in Newmarket, England, have praised his role in helping develop an organisational structure for the sport in the UAE.
During his four-year tenure in Dubai, Fitzgerald was responsible for creating the Emirates Racing Authority (formerly the Emirates Racing Association), the building of a turf track at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse and overseeing the launch of the inaugural Dubai World Cup meeting in 1996.
He was aged 63 when he lost his prolonged battle with cancer on Monday.
Rich tributes
John Ferguson, racing adviser to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who appointed Fitzgerald in 1992, paid a rich tribute, saying: “He was an excellent trainer who kept the highest standards and went on to play a major role in the development of racing in Dubai. It is a sad day.”
Under the chairmanship of Colonel Ali Khamis Al Jafleh, he was firm on establishing a high standard for the sport in the UAE which stands to this day.
After he relinquished his position with the ERA Lord John was succeeded by Les Benton, Fin Powrie and Frank Gabriel Jr, who is currently the Dubai Racing Club’s Vice President of Racing.
