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Good Morning readers. I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend. Some of you may be aware that this week saw the start of, the Dubai World Cup.
Classed as one the world's richest and most glamorous equestrian events, with a winning purse of $6 million, it attracts the world's top jockeys and horses, all competing for the millions of dollars worth of prize money.
The races began in 1996 at Nad Al Sheba Race Course in Dubai, an event brought to life by Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. This is the last year that the event is to be held at Nad Al Sheba as 2010 marks the opening of the new horse racing city, called Meydan.
The new home for not only Dubai's racing but world equestrian events, is a state-of-the-art complex, that promises, as its opening gesture, an increase in prize money for the 2010 event bringing the winnings to approximately $10 million.
Over the last 13 years, the event has seen records made and broken. The winners of the first event in 1996 were thoroughbred Cigar ridden by Jerry Bailey. Cigar came from a long line of racing greats and was himself considered one of North America's second biggest money earners. Cigar's jockey was and remains the jockey with the most wins at the Dubai cup.
On the speed front, many of you will remember the famous Dubai Millenium, foaled in 1996 and owned by the Godolphin stable. Dubai Millenium and his famous jockey Frankie Dettori rode to victory in 2000, setting a new speed record that remains unbroken today at 1:59:50.
Dettori himself is a man admired for not only his flying dismounts, but a fine career in racing. At only 16 he rode to his first win in 1986 in Turin, Italy, his second coming in Great Britain only a few months later. In 1990 he was the first teenager since the legendary Lestor Piggot (considered the greatest flat jockey of all time) to ride 100 winners in one season. Frankie is the retained jockey for the Godolphin stables.
This year's race was, as previous years, exhilarating to watch and sees a new winner in the form of Well Armed ridden by jockey Aaron Gryder. What made the win even more spectacular was that only two years earlier, Well Armed was seriously injured fracturing his pelvis and it was suggested he be put down.
So there you have it, another Dubai World Cup that has come and gone. However, for those of you that are racing enthusiasts, we are extremely lucky to have our own race track here in Bahrain.
Most Fridays through the winter months see annual meets and this weekend is no different. So if you have spare time, head to the Sakhir race track on Friday for what is always an exciting event. In addition you may be lucky enough to see some riders in and around Saar practicing on the old race track or simply just enjoying the open space and opportunity to sprint around the soft sands.
For those of you who sway more to the side of show jumping, there is a show jumping event at Sahara Stables, Saar on Friday. The event begins at 9am. There is a chance of rain so you might want to pack your umbrella! Until next week.
