Dubai: The prestigious 27th Arabian Racing Cup’s Darley Awards, the annual award ceremony that honours the most outstanding performers in Purebred Arabian racing, will be held at the famous Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Friday.

Held under the auspices of the HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, the glittering Oscars of Arabian racing will also feature the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards for Ladies while is staged under the auspices of Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, President of the General Women’s Union and Chairwoman of Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council.

Eleven awards in each category will be presented.

The ceremony will start at 4.30am (UAE time) on Saturday with the traditional Red Carpet, followed by a party for all breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys involved in the Arabian horse races.

Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee (IFAHR) said that staging the Award at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood represented a new frontier for the Festival but was a continuation of what it has accomplished in previous editions around the world.

“The ceremony will have its main features as the focus would be on nominating the best in each of the 11 categories of the festival,” she said.

“The authorities which nominate their candidates for the awards having ensured the authenticity of their nominations considering the great value and importance of the Awards which carry the name of the Mother of the UAE.

“Winners in the various categories will receive appreciation trophies besides a hat designed by the world famous Polish designer Rafael.

“I would like to thank HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs and HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, for their strong support and backing for the festival,” she said.

“Three candidates have been nominated for each category, and the winner would be selected from that group,” Sawaya added,

“The success of the Festival highlights the continued promotion of the Arabian horse worldwide. In addition, the staging of the HH Shaikha Fatima Awards in Hollywood is the crowning achievement and best illustrates the success in showcasing the Festival to the world.

“Another indicator of the Festival’s success is validated by the participation of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition and hopefully this trend will continue.”

Denise Gault, US Darley Award chief steward, said: “The partnership with the Festival is a great honour for the officials of the Awards and I would like to thank HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for their support of Arabian horses worldwide, which has its positive impact in the restoring of the value of this noble creature.

“We are hopeful that the Arabian Horse Racing Committee in California would stage this international event up to the reputation which the festival and the Oscar of the Mother of the UAE have acquired over years.”

Dignitaries scheduled to attend the prize-presentation ceremony include Dr Wadoda Badran, Director-General of the Arab Women Organisation, Abdulla Al Subosi, General Consulate of the UAE Embassy in Los Angeles, Sami Jasem Al Boenain, Chairman of the International Federation for Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Ali Mosa Al Khamiri, director of the Dubai Equestrian Club, Kinsman Wright, Darley Award Chairman and Dennis Juliet, from the Arabian Racing Cup,