Dubai and Melbourne In 'Unique' Horseracing Alliance
The Chairman of the Dubai Racing Club, Mr Ali Khamis Al Jafleh, and the Chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club, Mr Kevin Hayes today announced the formation of a partnership creating a new era in international horse racing.
The two Chairmen spoke on opposite sides of the world but related the same message, the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) and the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) will join to promote two separate, high profile race meetings in opposite hemispheres but marketed together as one event.
The first of these meetings will be held at Dubai¹s Nad Al Sheba racecourse on April 13, 2002, a programme which includes the US$250,000 UAE Oaks, the US$200,000 Al Bastikiya, the Dhs200,000 Nad Al Sheba Gold Cup and the Dhs200,000 UAE Purebred Arabian Derby.
The second meeting will be at Melbourne¹s Caulfield racecourse on September 22, 2002, an afternoon of racing which includes the Group I Dubai Racing Club Cup and the Group I Underwood Stakes.
Both meetings, highlights of the racing calendars in the United Arab Emirates and Australia, will be jointly marketed and promoted throughout each country.
Emirates, the United Arab Emirates¹ Award Winning International Airline, announced their participation and will be the Official Airline of the joint venture. Emirates will also have their name associated with a race at each meeting.
'The Melbourne Racing Club is among the most progressive in Australia and has similar goals and ambitions that we at Dubai Racing Club have and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership,' said Mr Al Jafleh.
'Horse racing is now an international sport and we are confident this initiative will be the antecedent for which other racing clubs and centres around the world join forces to promote and conduct racing together for the good of the sport.'
'On behalf of the Dubai Racing Club I thank the Melbourne Racing Club for partnering with us in this exciting concept.'
'Reciprocal racemeetings between Clubs are not a new concept, but the relationship formulated between the Dubai Racing Club and Melbourne Racing Club has redefined the boundaries and will scale unprecedented heights,' the Chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club, Mr Kevin Hayes said.
'The season-ending UAE Oaks meeting has tremendous international standing and similarly, our Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield is one of the premier racedays on the Australian calendar.'
'The mutual benefits will extend beyond racing, with commercial and tourism opportunities certain to be created as a result both in Australia and the United Arab Emirates.'
'Emirates only lends our name and support to events that we deem will be successful,' commented Nasser Bin Kherbash, Emirates, GM Middle East and Africa. 'With two of the finest race clubs in their respective countries, success is almost guaranteed! We are very pleased to associate our name and identity to such a unique joint venture.'
Emirates will also sponsor a competition between the trainers and jockeys based in the United Arab Emirates and their counterparts in Australia. Points will be allocated according to a horse's finishing position and the trainer and jockey with the most number of points at the completion of the two meetings will be deemed the champions.
Winners of the Emirates Challenge will receive Business Class flights on the Emirates network as an award for their achievement. As an added bonus, Emirates will also offer discounted fares to the media and to supporters who wish to travel to the races in Dubai and in Melbourne.
The airline, no stranger to Australia, will begin operations to Perth four times weekly commencing in the summer of 2002. By flying to Perth, Emirates covers Australia from East coast to West coast with flights to Sydney four times weekly and daily flights to Melbourne.
The Chief Executive of the Melbourne Racing Club, Mr Peter Sweeney, and the Chief Executive of the Emirates Racing Association, Mr Les Benton, were also present at the launch in Dubai as was the Deputy Premier of Victoria, The Honourable Mr John Thwaites.
'We are extremely proud to have established close reciprocal ties with such an esteemed raceclub and look forward to an exciting working relationship for many years to come,² said Mr Sweeney.
³I would firstly like to say that I am delighted with the choice of exchange racemeetings both in terms of profile and prestige.'
Mr Les Benton, the Chief Executive of the Emirates Racing Association, announced that the Emirates Racing Association would also be supporting the venture with the sponsorship of the Group I Underwood Stakes.
'Within this era of international horse racing we have horses from different countries coming together and now we have two racing clubs from different hemispheres coming together,' Mr Benton said.
'It is an extremely exciting concept and one which all parties involved hope leads to other racing clubs around the world forming similar alliances in working together for the good of the sport.'
'Of course with such an ambitious undertaking, it could not succeed without the support and affiliation of partners and for this we have to thank the Melbourne Racing Club and Emirates.'
'As Chief Executive of the Emirates Racing Association I would also like to announce the support of the Emirates Racing Association in sponsoring the Underwood Stakes, a race that has been won by champions of the Australasian turf through the years.'
For further information please contact:
Martin Talty
Emirates Racing Association
T: (04) 331-3311
The two Chairmen spoke on opposite sides of the world but related the same message, the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) and the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) will join to promote two separate, high profile race meetings in opposite hemispheres but marketed together as one event.
The first of these meetings will be held at Dubai¹s Nad Al Sheba racecourse on April 13, 2002, a programme which includes the US$250,000 UAE Oaks, the US$200,000 Al Bastikiya, the Dhs200,000 Nad Al Sheba Gold Cup and the Dhs200,000 UAE Purebred Arabian Derby.
The second meeting will be at Melbourne¹s Caulfield racecourse on September 22, 2002, an afternoon of racing which includes the Group I Dubai Racing Club Cup and the Group I Underwood Stakes.
Both meetings, highlights of the racing calendars in the United Arab Emirates and Australia, will be jointly marketed and promoted throughout each country.
Emirates, the United Arab Emirates¹ Award Winning International Airline, announced their participation and will be the Official Airline of the joint venture. Emirates will also have their name associated with a race at each meeting.
'The Melbourne Racing Club is among the most progressive in Australia and has similar goals and ambitions that we at Dubai Racing Club have and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership,' said Mr Al Jafleh.
'Horse racing is now an international sport and we are confident this initiative will be the antecedent for which other racing clubs and centres around the world join forces to promote and conduct racing together for the good of the sport.'
'On behalf of the Dubai Racing Club I thank the Melbourne Racing Club for partnering with us in this exciting concept.'
'Reciprocal racemeetings between Clubs are not a new concept, but the relationship formulated between the Dubai Racing Club and Melbourne Racing Club has redefined the boundaries and will scale unprecedented heights,' the Chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club, Mr Kevin Hayes said.
'The season-ending UAE Oaks meeting has tremendous international standing and similarly, our Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield is one of the premier racedays on the Australian calendar.'
'The mutual benefits will extend beyond racing, with commercial and tourism opportunities certain to be created as a result both in Australia and the United Arab Emirates.'
'Emirates only lends our name and support to events that we deem will be successful,' commented Nasser Bin Kherbash, Emirates, GM Middle East and Africa. 'With two of the finest race clubs in their respective countries, success is almost guaranteed! We are very pleased to associate our name and identity to such a unique joint venture.'
Emirates will also sponsor a competition between the trainers and jockeys based in the United Arab Emirates and their counterparts in Australia. Points will be allocated according to a horse's finishing position and the trainer and jockey with the most number of points at the completion of the two meetings will be deemed the champions.
Winners of the Emirates Challenge will receive Business Class flights on the Emirates network as an award for their achievement. As an added bonus, Emirates will also offer discounted fares to the media and to supporters who wish to travel to the races in Dubai and in Melbourne.
The airline, no stranger to Australia, will begin operations to Perth four times weekly commencing in the summer of 2002. By flying to Perth, Emirates covers Australia from East coast to West coast with flights to Sydney four times weekly and daily flights to Melbourne.
The Chief Executive of the Melbourne Racing Club, Mr Peter Sweeney, and the Chief Executive of the Emirates Racing Association, Mr Les Benton, were also present at the launch in Dubai as was the Deputy Premier of Victoria, The Honourable Mr John Thwaites.
'We are extremely proud to have established close reciprocal ties with such an esteemed raceclub and look forward to an exciting working relationship for many years to come,² said Mr Sweeney.
³I would firstly like to say that I am delighted with the choice of exchange racemeetings both in terms of profile and prestige.'
Mr Les Benton, the Chief Executive of the Emirates Racing Association, announced that the Emirates Racing Association would also be supporting the venture with the sponsorship of the Group I Underwood Stakes.
'Within this era of international horse racing we have horses from different countries coming together and now we have two racing clubs from different hemispheres coming together,' Mr Benton said.
'It is an extremely exciting concept and one which all parties involved hope leads to other racing clubs around the world forming similar alliances in working together for the good of the sport.'
'Of course with such an ambitious undertaking, it could not succeed without the support and affiliation of partners and for this we have to thank the Melbourne Racing Club and Emirates.'
'As Chief Executive of the Emirates Racing Association I would also like to announce the support of the Emirates Racing Association in sponsoring the Underwood Stakes, a race that has been won by champions of the Australasian turf through the years.'
For further information please contact:
Martin Talty
Emirates Racing Association
T: (04) 331-3311