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Arabian races make return to France

CRAON-MAYENNE (FRANCE) — Henri Malard, president of the Craon Racecourse said they are delighted to see the Arabian races return to the region after 16 years thanks to the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Racing Festival.

Speaking to newsmen at the racecourse on Saturday, the racing boss reiterated that people have a special passion for the Arabian horse in this part of the world.

“We are pleased to host this special meeting and have it both ways. On the one hand, we are contributing to the promotion of the Arabian horse and on the other, we are enhancing the already strong ties which exist between our region and Abu Dhabi,” he said.

“From my personal experience I know that UAE is the best window to the business in the Middle East. And by strengthening the relationships between the businessmen in our two countries, we are also opening a wide door for the French investments to establish a strong foothold in the Middle East.

Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Global Arabian Racing Festival said they are equally pleased to return to this beautiful place from which the global campaign for promoting the Arabian horse has started in 1994.

“The Shaikh Zayed Cup will be run on the opening day of the most important racing occasion on the agenda of the Craon racecourse,” she said.

“It’s a pride for the festival to bring back the Arabian races to Craon and provide all the required support and backing for the promotion of this noble creature around Europe and the rest of the world.

“Under the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affiars, the number of races will be increased. There will be nine races for the Shaikh Zayed Cup series. There will be 40 races for the Al Wathba Stud Cup; 15 for the local owners in Abu Dhabi and 25 to be held in Europe. Our races will reach Stockholm in Sweden for the first time. We have selected particular racecourses which need more support like Holland and Switzerland besides the existing venues.The price-money ranges between Euro2000 and Euro6000 respectively.

Meanwhile, the organising committee is preparing to host the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference scheduled from September 23 to 25, 2010.

“Over 100 international breeders, owners, trainers and experts have been invited to attend the three-day event set to discuss the Arabian horse races, breeding, training, history and future,” she said.

Jean-Pierre De Gaste, chairman of the French Society for Arabian Horse thanked Shaikh Mansoor for his valuable contribution for the promotion of the Arabian horse.

“In 1994, Abu Dhabi has sponsored the French Derby in Chantille and two Arabian races in Craon.

“It was the farsightedness of late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the vision of Shaikh Mansoor that made our dream come true,” he said.

“At first the people were skeptic about the viability of the idea, but right now they came to realise that impossible is nothing. The public attendance and interaction with the Arabian races are by no means less than the Thoroughbreds if not more,” he confirmed.

Stephen Bowey, communications manager of Invest AD said they are excited with the idea and it’s a privilege to be associated with the festival.

“The long term vision of the future of the Arabian horse is very significant,” he said.