Abu Dhabi: To celebrate the 25 years of The UAE President Cup for Purebred Arabian World Series, a race has been included at the Emirates French Guineas meeting in Paris Longchamp racecourse.

Speaking at the announcement of the event, Matar Al Yabhouni, President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s committee for the President Cup said, “To have race on the French Guineas day, particularly when this iconic racecourse is open to public after two years, is a massive advertisement for the Purebred Arabians.

“This race series has been held for about 35 years but it received official status only 25 years ago, and hence we are celebrating the silver jubilee this season.”

Al Yabhouni went on to add that the race series has made its mark all around the world over the years and this year will see two more additions.

“We have seen the success of this race series with every passing year. We have eight races around the world and now we have added Russia and Saudi Arabia, which is a big breakthrough.”

The two races added in the season’s calendar are the $40,000 Group 1 race run over the 2,150 metres in Moscow on August 26 and the $100,000 contest in Saudi Arabia in December, for which a date is yet to be confirmed.

Over the years, The UAE President Cup race series are held under Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) committee for the President Cup and the Emirates Equestrian Federation but this year onwards the Ministry of Presidential Affairs are also onboard.

“The races series is to promote and encourage Purebred Arabian racing as well as the breeding of this species around the world. These races are staged at high-profile race meetings around the world and it receives the kind of massive exposure from the racing fraternity,” said Aref Al Awani, general secretary of ADSC.

“The race days are well attended and we had more than 100,000 in attendance the previous year. We wish to double that number this year to 200,000. Then there will be millions of TV viewers on a race day like the UAE Guineas.”

Schedule:

The President Cup schedule: April 14: Cairo, Egypt; May 13: Longchamp, France; June 24: Den Haag, Holland; July 1: Milan, Italy; July 30: Oostende, Belgium; August 26: Moscow, Russia; September 15: Doncaster, England; September 29: Churchill Downs, USA; November 18: Casablanca, Morocco; December (TBC): Saudi Arabia.