Dubai Duty Free boost for UK Arabian Races
Leading airport retailer to sponsor Group 1 contest at showpiece event at Newbury
T he annual Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) at Newbury Racecourse in the UK has received a significant boost with Dubai Duty Free adding their support to the popular Purebred Arabian extravaganza.
The award-winning airport retailer will now sponsor the Group 1 Hatta International Stakes, one of three Group 1 races that encompass a glittering eight-race card at the Berkshire track on July 26.
The DIAR was created by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, to promote the sport of Arabian horse racing to a wider audience, and also to strengthen international, commercial and diplomatic ties.
Run over 2,000 metres, the Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes was won last year by Djainka Des Forges, who went on to win the €1 million (Dh4.01 million) Group 1 Purebred Arabian World Cup at Longchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of DIAR, who has worked hard with his committee to secure the addition of Dubai Duty Free to the list of sponsors for this year’s DIAR, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Dubai Duty Free as a sponsor to DIAR — Newbury on 26th July 2015.
“Dubai Duty Free is a prestigious and well-loved brand, not just in the UAE but across the world and we hope that this will be the start of a long and happy alliance. We would like to thank Mr. Colm McLoughlin and the management team of Dubai Duty Free for their support.”
Important part
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice-Chairman McLoughlin said: “We are glad to support the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) taking place at the historic Newbury Racecourse in July, which is a new addition to our ever growing sports portfolio in sponsoring horseracing overseas.
“Horseracing sponsorship enables us to promote the Dubai Duty Free brand, which is a very important part of fulfilling our original brief to help promote Dubai, which remains in our mission statement to this day.”
Genny Haynes of the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) commented: “The Arabian Racing Organisation is delighted to welcome Dubai Duty Free as a new sponsor to the flagship day of International Arabian racing in the UK. The Dubai International Arabian Races are renowned worldwide and we look forward to Dubai Duty Free’s involvement as part of this incredible initiative of Shaikh Hamdan.”
Julian Thick, CEO of Newbury Racecourse, said: “Dubai Duty Free has been sponsoring at Newbury for 20 years, so we are delighted that the company has decided to support Dubai International Arabian Races in such generous fashion too. This day is one of the highlights of our summer season and a hugely popular event in the Newbury area and we are looking forward to the 2015 renewal on July 26 being the best yet.”