Sport | Horse Racing
Ode to Dubai World Cup
Inspired by his visit to Nad Al Sheba, racing poet Henry Birtles has written an ode in honour of the Dubai World Cup.
- By Naveed Raja, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 April 5, 2007
- "I took it up as a way of conveying and expressing the emotions that this great sport causes to rise up inside its supporters," says Henry Birtles.
- Image Credit:
Dubai: Inspired by his visit to Nad Al Sheba, racing poet Henry Birtles has written an ode in honour of the Dubai World Cup.
Englishman Birtles, 40, is known in his homeland as the Cheltenham Festival's "Poet in Residence", and was called on to address the Royal Box at this year's jumps racing highlight.
He gave a moving delivery of his verse about deceased star Best Mate, which reduced owner Jim Lewis to tears beside the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winning legend's statue.
After witnessing Invasor's World Cup victory, Birtles said: "I find something terribly romantic about the concept of this wonderful sport being brought home to its roots.
"I've been to the Dubai World Cup meeting seven times and it never fails to get me, the thoroughbred starting here and then coming back to contest one of the biggest races in the world here."
The bard's first visit to the richest race meeting in the world came in the year 2000 when the breathtaking performance of Dubai Millennium left an indelible mark seared in his mind.
"Being there that night was an honour," he said. "The night he smoked up the track was something from another level, everything else falls short in comparison. I plan to write a poem about Dubai Millennium sometime in the future."
Birtles, who visits the Dubai World Cup in his capacity as head of international distribution for television and a consultant for production company Sunset + Vine, started writing racing poetry as a young backpacker in Sydney in 1991.
There he wrote about legendary Australian racehorse Phar Lap and has since penned tributes to, among others, Ouija Board, Desert Orchid and Dancing Brave.
The emotions
"I took it up as a way of conveying and expressing the emotions that this great sport causes to rise up inside its supporters.
"The whole thing has really taken off in the last few months thanks to the support of Edward Gillespie, the Managing Director of Cheltenham racecourse, who gave me the confidence to stand up in front of thousands of people and recite."
And the wordsmith hailed the contribution of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to the world of racing.
He added: "What Shaikh Mohammad has done, not only here but all over the world, means racing should forever be in his debt.
"Once Meydan is up and running it will be an even bigger step forward."
THE DAY AFTER
(A Poet's thanks to The Ruler)
The Desert summons back the few
To where it all began
From whence 'The Three' of noble blood
Set forth to foreign lands,
'The Three' who sired the swiftest breed
And gave this world our sport
A spectacle that levels all
From Street to Royal Court.
It took a Prince, now Ruler
Of this land known as Dubai
To bring their sons and daughters back
And raise the bar this high
To offer prizes never seen
And force the hand of those
Who say they own the finest horse
To prove, not just suppose.
And yet again we've felt the heat
That feeds our hearts desire
To see the best the world can throw
From Racing's blazing fire
Now on the Night, above the rest
Strode two who shook the core
Imperious Asiatic Boy
And mighty Invasor
So thank you Sheikh Mohammed
For another World Cup Feast
Your home, Dubai, has proved once more
That wonders never cease.
© Henry Birtles
1st April 2007
Share this article
More from Horse Racing
More from Sport
Popular in Sport
-
Golf
Realistic hope
Briton, on verge of turning 29, is among the fancied four for title
Sport Editor's choice
-
Westwood dazzles on the Earth
Briton takes two-shot lead to move closer to title as McIlroy swept away in windy conditions
-
Action from the Beach Soccer World Cup
The 2009 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup opens at the Umm Suqueim Beach in Jumeirah
-
UAE stages Asia Cup Twenty20
Three teams to qualify for Asian Games from this event Top three will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and China for 2010 Asian Games
