ABU DHABI: The dates for the UAE’s 2013-2014 racing season have been approved by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA).
The new season’s inaugural day of racing will be held at the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday, November 1, 2013, and will be followed by the Sharjah Racecourse’s first date, on Saturday, November 2. The first meeting at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse will take place on Thursday, November 7, and Abu Dhabi’s season gets underway at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday, November 10. A newcomer to the UAE’s racing calendar, Al Ain City’s Al Nakheel Equestrian Club will see its first racing of the season on Thursday, November 30.
Meanwhile, the international racing series will kick off with the Dubai World Cup Carnival 2014 at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday, January 9, 2014, and the closing event will be the 19th edition of the world-renowned Dubai World Cup race day, sponsored by Emirates Airline, and scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2014.
HE Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, the ERA Board’s Vice Chairman, said the new season would include 57 races in total, representing an increase of five races over the previous season. Of the new season’s races, 15 days will be held at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, while Al Nakheel Equestrian Club will host five race days in Al Ain. Meydan Racecourse will see the most horseracing action with 20 days, while Jebel Ali Racecourse will host 11 dates and the Sharjah Racecourse will be home to six days of racing.
Al Tayer was pleased with the approval and announcement of the new racing season dates and said, “We look forward to welcoming all the horse owners, trainers and jockeys that will be competing in our racing season.” He emphasized that the new season will be filled with a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm, especially as many of the world’s elite horses will be aiming for top results and championship wins. Admission to the public areas at all racecourses and equestrian clubs participating in the year’s horse racing events will be free of charge, Al Tayer added.
Please click here for the 2013/2014 race fixtures calendar
