The team of jockey Tadgh O’Shea, trainer Ernst Oertel, and owner/breeder Khalid Al Nabooda were a winning force in the 2018/2019 UAE race season, with a grand finale of picking off the 2019 Kahayla Classic win with AF Maher, a home-bred from Nabooda’s UAE stud farm. In the process, all three were awarded the UAE…
17 April 2019, UAE ~ Ernst Oertel is fresh off his winner circle triumphs for the 2018-2019 UAE racing season. Dedicated, determined and goal oriented, this year it all came together for Oertel as he won the ultimate Arabian race, the coveted $1million Dubai Kahayla Classic, the opener for the World Cup, and achieved Champion…
He understood the game of endurance and he loved every second of it 4 December 2018, California, USA ~ His registered name was LF Crystals Charm (Crystal Wind AHS x Autumn Splendor), and because of his steady ground-eating stride and his lets get down the trail attitude, they called him, The Big Red Machine. He…
Save the Date30 November 2018, Missoula, Montana, USA ~ The short list for the EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival® Awards, March 14-17 in Missoula, Montana, promises epic equestrian storytelling alongside its theme of Healing, Hope & the Promise of the Horse/Human Bond.’ Meet 9 year-old Mongolian horseman, Janibek, in Boy Nomad: A Coming of Age Story…
Riding in the Full Buck Moon3 August 2018, USA ~ The answer is YES. On 28 July 2018, Heather Reynolds of Dunnellon, Florida, riding the retired Arabian racehorse, ten-year-old, Cayucos (Virgule Al Maury x Tikis Wing Beat) was first across the finish line in Auburn, California, at 10 PM, to claim her third Tevis Cup…
7 April 2018, HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards Stake $100,000 Grade 1, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, and close in Fresno on 15 October 2018. Stay and Race in California At the February 2018 Arabian Racing Association of California (ARAC) General Membership meeting, additional races and racing incentives were announced, including…
A tough and determined mareLynn Bennett bought Always and Forever sight unseen as an endurance prospect. The mare was then in foal to Kaolino at Mandolynn Hill Farm in Aubrey, Texas. The mare’s little grey filly was named Last Call MHF (Callie). The story begins here. “My first time on a horse was at age…
Working with Iran for Stud Book Organization, Jockey Club and Animal Health Standards
JPD: “Before Iran I went to Iraq, north in Kurdistan to the city of Erbil, not far from Mosul, about 75 km/ 100 miles from the conflict and war.[1] The Kurdistan people are fanatic about horses. Due to the war next door, a lot of horses went to Erbil to find a peaceful place.
“Last weekend we organized an Arabian beauty show in Erbil. Horses came from US, Europe, the Emirates. It is a one way trip as horses can only be imported, not exported.[2]
“We have just finished a new racetrack and we start the racing season in September. We also have other equestrian sports. Already we have organized with the FEI 2 jumping shows. About 20 horses came from different countries and we stayed in Erbil with local people. There were 12 riders who came from different countries to ride the horses. This was 18-19 May.[3]
“Then I went to Tehran, Iran. They have never stopped racing in Tehran, even during the time of Ayatollah Khomeini the race track was open. The big surprise was betting; they never stopped betting. They have Pari mutual betting, the same as we have in France. The betting money injected by bettors goes back to winners, breeders and owners. This way they can accept betting.[4]
“The idea is to separate the racing and the equestrian sport.They asked me to create a jockey club for Iran. I went there with Dr.Anthony Kettle, head of the Veterinary Department of the Dubai Racing Club, and Dr.Roland Devolz, Veterinary advisor of the International Federation of Horse Racing (IFHA) Authorities. One will be in charge of the Stud book and the other will be in charge of racing.”
JPD: “My contract targets are:
– to create the Jockey Club of Iran, to write the new rules of racing and to have Iran becoming a member of the International Federations.
– to check the different stud books (registration of all the “equidae” in Iran)
– to check how Iran controls animal diseases
– to register all the owners, breeders of the existing horses (racehorses, showjumping and any other Equestrian Sport activities)
– to allow, one day, International Competitions, inside Iran
– to allow Iranian horses to participate to competitions outside of Iran
“We are talking about all different breeds: Thoroughbred horses, Pure Arabian, Anglo Arabians, Turkmen horses. The job will be to list the number of existing horses of each breed and those to be used as racehorses.
“They have already a good team in charge of the different stud books. Sheri Aslani is in charge of the Pure Arabian stud book and the Iranian Arabian Stud Book is a member of WAHO, so the horses are registered.
“In regards to the Stud Books and horse racing, this is why I visited Iran with Dr. Devolz, the veterinary advisor of IFHA. We also work closely with IFAHR, in charge of the Pure Arabian Racehorses. Dr. Devolz will check to be certain that the Stud Books are published properly, if all horses have a microchip, and where the horses are located, etc.
“Dr Anthony Kettle is in charge of the International movement of horses – import/export regulation. Both Dr Devolz and Dr Kettle already inspected with me the Ministry of Agriculture, the Veterinary Department and the local authorities in charge of controlling animal diseases. Iran is a member of the OIE (in charge of controlling the animal diseases all around the world).[5]
“We also went to inspect the Equestrian Federation and the main horse riding schools. My next trip will be to visit all od the main breeders (some have already been visited), the main training centers and the main racetracks (five), all around the country.
“Betting: It is allowed to bet on horse racing in Iran since the 1980’s and it was never prohibited by the local leaders. Betting in Iran is a kind of French Pari mutuel, like the Hong Kong Jockey Cub; a non-profit organization. The money invested by the punters is given back to the winners, less a percentage to pay for the organization (Jockey Club), the cost of the betting system, prize money given to owners and breeders, less a tax to pay for the construction of others sports sport facilities or hospital, mosques etc. Part of the money injected by the punters goes back to the system and creates employment. No bookmakers, no private people can organize betting.”
Iranian Breeder Shery Aslani said: “We will be beginning our races in Tehran (June 8) and I am happy that Jean Pierre will be helping us. I saw him also in Erbil.”
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