It’s awards time and the red carpet will be rolled out for the Purebred Arabian horse racing fraternity at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Friday, April 6, 2018 as the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and the Arabian Racing Cup present the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Awards and the US Darley Awards.

This year’s awards ceremony and the allied events are significant as the UAE marks the 100 birth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and also the 10th year of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival.

While the outstanding performers in US Arabian horse racing in 2017 will be feted with the US Darley Awards, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies International Awards recognizes international women achievers in Arabian Horse Racing all over the world.

While on April 6, the Dolby Studio, which just last month had hosted the Oscars, will stage the HH Sheikha Fatima Awards and US Darley Awards, on Saturday, April 7, some of the top Purebred Arabians racing in the US will line up for the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley International Awards Stakes race – a $100,000 Grade 1 Event, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

On Sunday, April 8, the Arabian Racing Cup (ARC) Board of Stewards led by Michelle Morgan will present the 25th Annual ARC Darley Stallion Auction featuring select international sires at the GALA DINNER. The HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival's announcer Derek Thompson serves again as the entertaining auctioneer, and the sale will be accompanied by dinner and entertainment in the lavish setting of the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons hotel.

“This is a huge year for us and this event is being held as we mark the ‘100 years of Zayed’ and also the 10th anniversary of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival. It will be an exciting three days of action and all this has been possible only due to the support of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the Emirates, President of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood,” said Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, General Manager of Watbha Stallions, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).

“Expert panels have nominated some of the best horses and officials from around the globe and a glittering show is in place for the Awards night,” Ms. Sawaya said.

Commenting on the events, Michelle Morgan, Chief Steward of ARC said: “This is the eighth year for Arabian Racing Cup and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Festival and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Awards to join together for the Darley Awards. This is a special year for them because it is 100 Years of Sheikh Zayed. We will be celebrating at the Dolby theatre and rewarding the winners on Friday night. With this union we are proud to say the Arabian Racing Cup and the Arabian horses are gaining recognition in the US. We are looking forward to this week of Awards, Racing and Friendship.”

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, Al Massood Automobiles and Nissan Middleast as official car partners, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC,  Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf,  Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Festival / Satya Narayan
Photos: Cidinha Franzão