Dubai: The annual Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) at Newbury Racecourse in the UK has received a significant boost with Dubai Duty Free adding their support to the popular Purebred Arabian extravaganza.
The award-winning airport retailer will now sponsor the Group 1 Hatta International Stakes, one of three Group 1 races that encompass a glittering eight-race card at the Berkshire track on July 26.
Sponsors for the rest of the races are predominantly UAE-based companies and organisations who have supported the event, which was created by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, to promote the sport of Arabian horse racing to a wider audience, and also to strengthen international, commercial and diplomatic ties.
Run over 2,000 metres, the Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes was won last year by Djainka Des Forges, who went on to win the 1 million euros (Dh4.01 million) Group 1 Purebred Arabian World Cup at Longchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day.
She is now the joint highest-rated Arabian filly in the world, which illustrates that the Hatta International has an important niche in the international pattern race calendar.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of DIAR, who has worked hard with his committee to secure the addition of Dubai Duty Free to the list of sponsors for this year’s DIAR, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Dubai Duty Free as a sponsor to DIAR — Newbury on 26th July 2015.
“Dubai Duty Free is a prestigious and well-loved brand, not just in the UAE but across the world and we hope that this will be the start of a long and happy alliance. We would like to thank Mr. Colm McLoughlin and the management team of Dubai Duty Free for their support.”
Commenting on the sponsorship, Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice-Chairman McLoughlin said: “We are glad to support the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) taking place at the historic Newbury Racecourse in July, which is a new addition to our ever growing sports portfolio in sponsoring horseracing overseas.
“Horseracing sponsorship enables us to promote the Dubai Duty Free brand, which is a very important part of fulfilling our original brief to help promote Dubai, which remains in our mission statement to this day.”
Salah Tahlak, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Communications of Dubai Duty Free, added: “Horseracing has always been a part of our marketing strategy and especially in Newbury as we have been sponsoring many races since 1996.
“We are delighted to be associated with Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) to sponsor the Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes (Gr. 1 PA). This is our first time to be involved in such a prestigious Arabian Racing that will give Dubai Duty Free extra mileage, which is a great initiative to promote Dubai and the UAE to the world.”
Genny Haynes of the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) commented: “The Arabian Racing Organisation is delighted to welcome Dubai Duty Free as a new sponsor to the flagship day of International Arabian racing in the UK. The Dubai International Arabian Races are renowned worldwide and we look forward to Dubai Duty Free’s involvement as part of this incredible initiative of HH Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”
Julian Thick, CEO of Newbury Racecourse, acknowledged that the addition of Dubai Duty Free to the DIAR also serves to strengthen the continued relationship with Newbury Racecourse and the airport retailer.
“Dubai Duty Free has been sponsoring at Newbury for 20 years, so we are delighted that the company has decided to support Dubai International Arabian Races in such generous fashion too.
“This day is one of the highlights of our summer season and a hugely popular event in the Newbury area and we are looking forward to the 2015 renewal on July 26 being the best yet.”
