Dubai: Julian Thick, CEO of the Racecourse Newbury, has responded positively to a proposal to expand the famous racetrack’s association with UAE racing following the success of a longstanding and successful collaboration with Jebel Ali Racecourse.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Shadwell chairman, was in favour of the British venue lending its name to the other racing centres in the Emirates to help promote mutual development.
“We’re very proud of the relationship that Newbury has built up with Jebel Ali and we hope we can extend that relationship with the same vision and values that we’re had with Jebel Ali Racecourse,” he said during a press conference at the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Tuesday.
“We will most certainly consider the proposal, which we believe can only result in the progress of the sport of horse racing.”
Thick, who has previously enjoyed successful stints as managing director of Aintree, Sandown, Kemptom Park and has also served as a board member of the Jockey Club, is in Dubai to attend Friday’s big-race meeting at Jebel Ali Racecourse, which features the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, one of three major races held at the popular venue each season.
Newbury Racecourse will sponsor the sixth race on the card, a rated conditions event over 1,000m, for which eight sprinters will bid for a purse of Dh90,000.
“I’ve been CEO of Newbury for just over a year and one of the things that has become clear to me during the time is to strengthen the relationship between Newbury and the UAE,” he said. “It is a relationship that I believe that has been built on mutual respect and a deep love for the horse and the sport of racing.”
Thick also extended his thanks and appreciation to Jebel Ali Racecourse and it’s chief patron Major-General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security, for inviting Newbury to sponsor a race on the showpiece day.
All the other five races on the card will be sponsored by Shadwell and it’s affiliates following the directives of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
“We are proud to have Newbury as our sponsor at this important meeting as it means a lot to UAE racing and the UK as well,” said Al Sayegh, Director of the Office of Shaikh Hamdan.
“We support this cordial relationship and hope that Newbury can support other racecourses in the UAE in a similar manner.
“Jebel Ali Racecourse has led the way into such a successful relationship, that is beneficial to both horse racing in the UAE and the UK, and we hope to see them at Meydan, Sharjah, Al Al and Abu Dhabi in the future,” he added. “Through their contacts and resources they can be of substantial support to racing across the UAE.”
Meanwhile Shareef Al Halawani, Jebel Ali Racecourse Manager, thanked Shaikh Hamdan for his continuous support of racing at the venue and also thanked the management of Newbury for their long-standing partnership with Jebel Ali who in turn support the Berkshire venue.
