To mark the 40th UAE National Day, the most amazing Night Glow event was organized by Stadia5 in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council.
This was the first time such an event took place in the whole of UAE and it was the most memorable way to celebrate the 40th UAE National Day.
The climax of the event was the sky lantern release. More than 8,000 people of all nationalities came together in Unity and Harmony to light the
sky lanterns and send them to heaven as a symbol of unity and hope. It was truly a breathtaking sight to watch. Everyone actively participated in this event.
Another important highlight of the event was the Special Celebration Cake hot air balloon that stunned the audience. The Night Glow show of the hot air balloons
kept everyone filled with amazement. We would like to thank all the media that were present and covered our event.
We would like to thank all the schools for their active participation: Our Own High School, The Philippine School, ISAS school, Fujairah Handicapped Center.
Last but not least, we would like to thank all our sponsors for their tremendous support: Dubai Sports Council, Western Union, Zee Network, Emirates Gas, ARN, Balloon Adventures, Meydan. And Thank you to all the people of Dubai who came together as one and celebrated this great Spirit of Union.
The Emirates Racing Authority is pleased to announce a number of changes to the Pattern calendar with seven races upgraded in group status and three others becoming Listed.
The Al Quoz Sprint is one of nine races within the Dubai International Racing Carnival programme held at Meydan Racecourse to be upgraded and one of four to Group 2 level alongside the Al Rashidiya and the two races for fillies and mares, the Cape Verdi and the Balanchine.
Promoted Races in the UAE
January 20 US$200,000 Cape Verdi 1,600m Turf Promoted to Group 2
January 27 US$200,000 Al Rashidiya 1,800m Turf Promoted to Group 2
A record number of international horses will be arriving in Dubai in the coming days as the countdown continues to the start of the richest horseracing carnival in the world - the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
Dubai Racing Club is pleased to announce their long term partners, Emirates Airline, will be joining forces to sponsor the season’s opening racemeeting – the Meydan Winter Meet, set to take place on Thursday November 11.
Emirates Airline is the generous sponsor this evening as horse racing action makes its eagerly awaited return to Meydan Racecourse. All six races are on the highly-acclaimed All – Weather surface, with one Purebred Arabian contest, the Wolgan Valley, a 1400m handicap, opening proceedings at 6.35pm.
The opening race of the new Meydan campaign was the 1400m Purebred Arabian handicap Wolgan Valley, and the progressive Af Amthaal made it five wins from ten starts. Now seven, he is trained by Bakhit Al Ketbi and has now won on turf, dirt and all-weather. Willie Supple was in the saddle and said: "He travelled nicely and was very brave when he needed to be. He is improving and very versatile with regard to underfoot conditions."
Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe had surprisingly drawn a blank at the meetings at Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi last week but posted a quickfire double at the end of the night. The penultimate 1600m handicap, Emirates Holidays, the official feature on the card, was won by his Aamaaq with Richard Hills in the saddle for his main employer His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Hills always looked confident on the seven year old, settled in behind the fats early pace, who picked up nicely when the gap appeared 300m out. The pair ran on strongly and Hills was relieved: "We always liked this horse and it is great he has bounced back here. He seems to relish this surface and hopefully we can find another race for him."
Al Raihe was back in the winner's enclosure after the concluding 1900m Emirates Airline handicap which was won easily by Rochdale, providing the trainer's stable jockey Royston Ffrench with a first winner of the season.
Ffrench said: "Rochdale is a nice old horse who seldom runs a bad race. He has really enjoyed the all-weather and I was very happy turning for home. It is nice to get a winner and great the yard had two."
Saudi Summer made a winning racecourse debut in Skywards, a 1400m maiden, to the relief of stable jockey Richard Mullen who picked the right one from four Seemar runners. The jockey said: "That is a pleasing start to his career and he quickened nicely when I asked him. It was a nice performance and a relief to pick the right one!"
Seemar was another trainer in double form with apprentice Harry Bentley opening his UAE account on Reylaldothewizard in the 1200m Emirates Sky Cargo. Bentley timed his challenge to perfection, leading near the line on the lightly-raced four-year-old.
Bentley said: "It is a great opportunity to ride in Dubai and I am very grateful to all concerned. The horse picked up nicely and we knew he would be staying on."
Wayne Smith was another to pick the right one and won the 1400m Arabian Adventures on Always Emirates, trained by his main employer Musabah Al Muhairi. Never far off the pace, he picked up nicely turning for home and ran on strongly to land the spoils. Smith was delighted: "I was hoping for a big run as he has been training well on the new surface. The horses are in good form."
Racing returns to the UAE's flagship racecourse on Thursday evening with a six race card, sponsored by Meydan.
Meydan today hosted His Excellency Senator Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, President of Senate, Parliament of Malaysia at the Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse today. The delegation included several senators as well as the Consul General of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Dubai, Mr. Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin.
The Meydan Group is set to sponsor the third Winter Meet of the season this Thursday. Meydan Group’s Executive Chairman Saeed H Al Tayer said: “At Meydan, our priority is to provide top-class facilities to horsemen, corporate clients, avid racing followers and the just curious spectators alike. We aim offer the very best.
The valued support of all the racing enthusiasts who were with us at Nad Al Sheba and now Meydan Racecourse continues, and we welcome all to come and sample a night out with a difference”.
The six race-card is highlighted by the concluding 1900m Meydan “Farriers” handicap, the most valuable on the card. It looks wide open with 11 declared with Doug Watson represented by the trio of Weald (Pat Dobbs), Dr Faustus (Tadhg O'Shea) and Royal Prince (Rory Cleary).
The first named made a winning seasonal debut last year and clearly goes well fresh. A case can also be made for the other pair and Watson said: "All three are going well at home. It looks a competitive race but we should at least be competitive."
Swinging Sixties looks a nice addition to the Dhruba Selvaratnam string and he will be ridden by Kieren Fallon. The trainer said: "He will come on for the run but is working nicely. We hope he will be a useful Carnival performer for us."
Falcativ, Glen Nevis, Inestimable and Sunday Symphony all have strong claims in an open contest.
Selvaratnam's Dahteer should go close under Fallon in the preceding 1400m Meydan “Fizzy Nights” handicap after a very pleasing return to action. The trainer said: "He ran well first time and is a consistent type. The drop in trip should not be a concern." Celtic King won very well at Jebel Ali on his seasonal bow but the handicapper acted accordingly and he looks high in the weights. Musabah Al Muhairi trains and stable jockey Wayne Smith said: "He was very good on the first day but this looks a lot tougher off his new rating. He works nicely on the surface though."
He also rides for Al Muhairi in the 1400m maiden, the Meydan “Shiba”. The pair combined last week to win a similar race with Zafeen Speed and this week's hope, Maath Gool, carries the same colours of Jaber Abdullah. Smith added: "They ran in the same race the first week and both ran well. We should not be far away."
Satish Seemar has made a great start to the season and saddles three including debutant Meiotic, the choice of Richard Mullen. Stable companion Techniques of War is considered, while Dahes is ultra-consistent and guaranteed to run a solid race. He is trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe whose AB Include looks the most likely winner of the 1200m Meydan “Prime”, while Selvaratnam's Canwinn should make a bold effort in the 1600m Meydan Golf Course.
The only Purebred Arabian contest is the opening 1600m Meydan Business Park, and eight have been declared. It looks a quality race with the Gill Duffield-trained AF Alghabra returning to action. Tadhg O'Shea won four times on her last year and said: "She was brilliant last year; really gutsy and improved throughout the season. She works well on the surface so can hopefully run a big race."
Rafed has been second and third already this season and Ted Durcan rides for Eric Lemartinel, while Sarabella won her only start to date. Michael Kettle trains Sama Bu Dhabi who looks a big danger to all.
Meydan's third meeting of the new season was highlighted by the concluding 1900m Meydan “Farriers” and Frenchman Stephane Chevalier opened his account for the season, as did former Champion Jockey Ted Durcan, when Lando Junior led close home to deny Swinging Sixties. Chevalier was delighted: "I have had many good times in Dubai as assistant to Ian Jory and Jerry Barton and it is great to have a winner myself.
I must thank the owners and Ted who has given him a great ride." Wayne Smith and the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Always Emirates won the 1200m Meydan “Prime” to follow-up their first night victory over 1400m. Drawn one, Smith was able to track the pace before kicking for home 400m out. They fought out a finish with AB Include but just prevailed to Smith's delight. He said: "It was a brave effort and he is a nice horse in this grade.
He has had a few problems but is running well." Trainer and jockey doubled up when Maath Gool ran out the convincing winner of the 1400m maiden, the Meydan “Shiba”. Having only his second start, the three year-old son of Dubawi was always travelling nicely and quickened clear 200m out. Smith said: "He is a nice young horse with very low mileage. Hopefully he can progress." The pair were narrowly denied a treble when Tayyab was caught on the line in the 1600m Meydan Golf Course handicap by the fast finishing Game Stalker. He is trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe and ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi and the Emirati pair were delighted to combine for a victory when celebrating National Day. Ajtebi said: "It is great to win for Ali at this time of year. We finished very quickly and I was hopeful we had just prevailed.
" Satish Seemar has made a flying start to the season and stable jockey Richard Mullen was in the saddle on Montmorency who won the 1400m Meydan “Fizzy Nigghts” in good style. Always handy, Mullen kicked his charge clear turning for home and they were never going to be caught. Mullen said: "He is a nice horse and was always going well in front. I knew he would stay all the way to the line and it has been a good start to the season.
Racing opened with the only Purebred Arabian race on the night, a 1600m Meydan Business Park, and the Gill Duffield-trained AF Alghabra won her fifth race on the trot – all under Tadhg O'Shea. Unbeaten in four starts last season, she opened her seasonal and Meydan account in style and the jockey said: "She is a bonny mare and a real credit to everyone concerned. She is hopefully still improving."
