February 28, 2013, Abu Dhabi Press Release ~ The Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Private Owned Horses will kick start three days of intensive action at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi.
At a press conference held at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel, Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Federation, gave details of the three rides for March1- March 3.
“The Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Private Owned Horses on Friday will be run over 100kms,” said Al Nuaimi. Around 50 riders have entered for the ride to win a portion of the Dh 350,000, which will be distributed to all riders who finish the race – the winner will get a Nissan car.
“The Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival will see over 150 horses compete in the 120km Two Star ride on Saturday,” he announced. For this ride, the winner will receive a car while all those who finish the ride will get a slice of the Dh 400,000.
Al Nuami said that the Giants Endurance Challenge, a 120 kms ride on Sunday, will distribute a total prize money of DH 500,000 – plus a Bentley car for the winner and two more cars for the second and third-placed riders.
Lara Sawaya, Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of Ladies Racing in IFAHR said, “On Friday the venue for the Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Private Owned Horses will be named ‘Mohammed Football Wathbaland’.
“While the horses and riders will be competing on the loops outside the venue, inside there will be a few small football courts where around 30 boys in the age group of 6 to 8 years will play football games,” Ms Sawaya said.
“Five of these kids will be selected and will be awarded two Emirates airline tickets for them to be accompanied by an adult each to watch AC Milan, a club sponsored by Emirates, play a game. They will be given a few days free stay at the ‘Four Seasons’ Hotel in Milan and will get to meet the star players of the club and enjoy the facilities there,” she added.
The family day out will have a raffle draw and will award three pairs of tickets to see a match in Paris by Paris St Germain, another club sponsored by Emirates airlines. “The winners will stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Paris,” Ms Sawaya added.
Ali Al Muhairi, Racing Manager for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance, said, “The Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan. We are expecting a strong competition.” He also announced DH 10,000 to be distributed to four families who attend Saturday’s ride, encouraging complete families to come for the event.
The press conference was attended by Talal Al Hashemi, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and Mubarak Rashed Al Nuaimi, director of Promotion and Overseas Offices at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
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