Sheikh Mohammed graces Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Festival

Gulf Today, Sports Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, witnessed on Saturday the main race of the the Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Festival, which was held at the Dubai International Endurance City, with the participation of 147 male and female knights.

His Highness stressed the importance of the event in stimulating excellence in the field of endurance racing, and the continuation of efforts in supporting and developing equestrian sports in general, and endurance racing in particular.

Sheikh Mohammed called for attention to preparing new generations of riders that confirm the UAE’s leadership in the field of horse sports, in general, especially endurance races, by topping local and international podiums.

The winners pose with their trophies at the event.

His Highness, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai followed part of the race, which comes at the conclusion of the festival, which is organized by the Dubai Equestrian Club in cooperation with the Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation and is held under the sponsorship of Emaar Company, and is considered one of the most prominent events on the annual endurance racing agenda.

In addition, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum met with the cubs of the Dubai Police Mounted Police Center, who attended the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup race, as part of the eighth winter forum program organized by the Dubai Police Mounted Police Center, with the aim of taking advantage of their free time in learning the basics of equestrianism.

His Highness was keen to encourage and motivate them to take an interest in sports in general and equestrian sports in particular, and urged them to display the noble morals of a knight, calling on them to be a model and role model in combining academic excellence and sporting excellence.

The race was attended and the winners were crowned by Major General Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, President of the Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation, Dr Ghanem Al Hajri, Secretary General of the Federation, Major General Dr Mohammed Issa Al Adhab, Director General of the Dubai Equestrian Club, and Ahmed Al Falasi, Chief Commercial Officer of Emaar Properties.

The trophy was won by jockey Saif Ahmed Al Mazrouei riding the horse of Magic Glen Turk Stables (MRM), covering the total distance in a time of 4:05:26 hours, with an average speed of 29.09 km/hour.

In second place came the jockey Zayed Mohammed Al Muhairi, riding the horse Castlebar Croisier for Stables. (F3), and achieved 4:05:51 hours, followed in third place by jockey Rashid Saeed Malhouf, riding the horse of Duncan Stables (M7), with a time of 4:06:26 hours.

The festival included three other races in addition to the main race, namely the Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Cup for Women, a distance of 101 km, last Tuesday, the Crown Prince of Dubai for Private Stables, a race of 101 km on Wednesday, and the Al Yamama Race, designated for mares, a distance of 119 km, last Thursday.

It is noteworthy that the the Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Festival has been held periodically for more than fifteen years and comes to celebrate the association and support of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.

Following in the footsteps of his father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who is considered one of the most important global icons in the field of horse sports, Sheikh Hamdan has achieved many goals in this sports and made a great contributions to this sports.