Business & Finance Club Magazine - Sports - Horse Racing - Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Racing Festival have joined hands with the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Emirates Arabian Horse Society (EAHS) to stage the first World Arabian Horse Racing Conference in Abu Dhabi from September 23-25.

Deep-rooted traditions

The three-day event, to be held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2010 (ADIHEX) in co-ordination with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), is expected to attract experts from all over the world.

"With the IFAHR providing full support and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council co-ordinating the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference, the event will be another platform to acquaint visitors with the deep-rooted traditions of Abu Dhabi and the UAE," said Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Communications Director of ADACH.

"The Conference is expected to attract hundreds of experts, researchers and others involved with Purebred Arabian horse racing from more than 20 IFAHR member countries and from around the world," he said.

"In the 20-year history of Arabian horse racing, we have seen increasing support worldwide. The UAE has been in the forefront while other Gulf countries have played a major role in promoting Arabian racing. This conference is another major step forward," said Sami Jasem Al Bunain, IFAHR Chairman.

Educate

"There is a weakness in this sport however, because there is a lack of understanding about it. This conference will educate others about purebred horse racing, and will act as a boost for IFAHR," he said.

"The conference gives us another boost to strengthen our relationship with IFAHR, who have been supporting our efforts to promote Purebred Arabian horse racing around the globe," said Lara Sawaya, Director of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Racing Festival.

W.J.Ruiter, President of the Dutch Arabian Racing Association said: "Horse racing is in decline in the Netherlands because there are many small breeders who cannot upgrade their breeds. In addition, in our country, racing is subject to government regulations and most of the people at present are not too impressed with the sport or involved in it. But this conference may go a long way in improving the situation."

Representatives of HSBC bank, Invest AD, Bonyan International Investment Group (Holding) who are sponsors of the conference along with Areej Al Ameerat also addressed yesterday's press conference.