Sport | Horse Racing
Newbury braces for another Arabian spectacle
Racing fans are in for a real treat at Newbury Racecourse today when Purebred Arabian racing's biggest race meeting, the Dubai International Arabian Race Day, (DIARD), takes place.
- By Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor
- Published: 23:05 July 19, 2008
Newbury, England: Racing fans are in for a real treat at Newbury Racecourse today when Purebred Arabian racing's biggest race meeting, the Dubai International Arabian Race Day, (DIARD), takes place.
Now in its 26th year the DIARD is a much-anticipated event on the British racing calendar and close to 20,000 race goers are expected to descend on the Berkshire course, one of the finest racecourses in the UK.
The DIARD was conceived by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, as a championship event for Purebred Arabians in the UK. It was first run at Kempton in 1982 and celebrated its Silver Jubilee last year.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of the organising committee, said that Shaikh Hamdan is single-minded on promoting and nurturing Arabian racing in the UK and Europe.
In keeping with this vision, Al Sayegh said that special activities and events have been planned and organised to entertain race fans attending today's meeting.
"We will be giving away some very exciting prizes to lucky race goers," he said. "Television coverage will be provided by Channel Four and Racing UK and for the first time live images of the seven races will be broadcast into the betting shops across the country."
Prizes on offer
Among the many prizes to be won at Newbury today is a stylish Fiat 500 car, which will be given away following the free-to-enter event-closing Mega Draw.
Also on offer are holidays in Dubai, complete with flights and accommodation, courtesy of sponsors Emirates Airline and Jumeirah International.
Another unique prize to be won is a 10 per cent share in a racehorse to be trained and raced in Dubai, with a equal share of prize money the horse earns. The offer is made by co-sponsors Monarch Thoroughbreds.
There will also be the popular 'best dressed lady' completion with the winner set to receive valuable ad exquisite jewellery sets from their collection.
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