Another successful season reaches the finishing post today and Gulf Times learns that the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club has bold plans for the future
By Chris Hoover/Doha
Horse racing in Qatar has undergone a tremendous transformation over the last five years. From a minor racing centre, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (REC) has become the stage for some of the world’s finest horses and jockeys to strut their stuff.Top-class horses like Beethoven, Joshua Tree, Amico Mio, Lancelot and Miss Starlight have taken Thoroughbred racing to a new level in Qatar. In addition, international jockeys of the calibre of Oliver Peslier, Seb Sanders and Alan Munro continue to pursue their trade here. As a major sporting destination Qatar has reached the pinnacle by winning the bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Horse racing has also found its pride of place in the country’s sporting annals and it will not be long before it becomes a force that competes with the best. Looking at the statistics five years ago and now reveals the rapid progress made by the REC. And it is not just the numbers. The results also are on the upswing.When the 2005-06 season began at the REC’s New Rayyan track, there were 300 horses (80 Pure Arabians, 124 local bred Pure Arabians, 51 Thoroughbreds and 45 local Thoroughbreds). The number has touched 700 today.In terms of the participation of owners and trainers, the numbers have soared as well. From 92 owners that figure stands at 413. And as many as 184 trainers are competing compared to 37 in 2005. Qatar can boast being home to the best Pure Arabian horses in the world. To underline this achievement is the performance of Umm Qarn Farms, one of the top stud farms in the country, which produced General, the Arabian World Cup champion two years in a row.General set Longchamp racecourse in Paris alight with his victories and the equine world was watching.Al Dahma, Dahess, Mugadir have all performed exceptionally well on the international stage and are now retired. And there are many more Pure Arabians that have stood out for Qatar.The quality of the local bred Pure Arabians is much higher. Former champions Al Hanood, Al Hanoof, Dahess, Nizam, Mugadhir, Parador (all stallions) have been instrumental in keeping the chain of top horses emerging in Qatar.Due to this, the quality of racing has touched a new high with 11 track records set this season alone.Shahania Stud trainer Julian Smart is delighted with the progress. “As far as breeding goes, you will not find a stronger programme than the one that Qatar has. Qatar is definitely amongst the top when it comes to breeding top class Pure Arabian racehorses.”The quality of Thoroughbred racing, too, is reaching new heights. In the last couple of years the fields have been top class with many owners possessing impressive horses.Compared to industry ratings in the past, which were hovering around 85, Qatar now has Thoroughbreds with a rating of 116 competing in Doha. Qatari owners have opted to buy top class Thoroughbreds and have spent a lot of money securing the best. The owners are eyeing prestigious overseas races and it should not be long before a Qatari-owned horse does the country proud in the international arena.The REC has been at the forefront of Pure Arabian horses in other countries, as well. To achieve such status the REC has signed sponsorship deals for big races in Europe.One such agreement, which began in 2008, has led to Qatar becoming the sponsor of the prestigious Qatar Prix l’Arc de Triomphe in France, a middle distance championship race held at Longchamp in October. The last two “Arc days” included the Qatar Arabian World Cup on the same card when General triumphed.The partnership has been extended to 2022 and the REC has secured the hosting rights of this “richest race on turf” so the Qatar Arabian World Cup will continue to be run on the first Sunday of October each year. In terms of prize money a staggering 7mn euros in prize money is at stake during the Arc festival.Explaining the concept of Qatar’s association with international races, REC’s General Manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain said that it was for the promotion of Pure Arabian horses.
“We started sponsoring minor races abroad. However, in the past three years we have been associated with the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Qatar Arabian World Cup in Paris. The whole idea behind sponsoring races outside was to promote both Arabian and Thoroughbred horses,” al-Boenain said.“I think we have achieved that goal and today we can see many big international race days involving Arabian horses. To have the Qatar Arabian World Cup on the same day as the Arc in itself shows the importance of Arabian horses. “Qatar started this. It was a big moment. The result has been amazing. In Europe we see a lot of big race days involving Arabian horses. People love watching Arabian horses,” al-Boenain added.The REC has also commenced racing on a sand track. This move is aimed at preserving the turf and also giving a chance to owners and trainers to assess how good their horses are on a different surface.As an experiment the REC held two race meetings on sand earlier this year. It will be a permanent fixture from next season. The results in the trials have been encouraging for horses and owners and trainers have also welcomed the move.Ian Paterson, the REC’s chief executive and chief steward, shed more light on the initiative.“We had 41 race meetings on turf this season and the track is affected in a way. I think it is impossible under these climatic conditions to have all the meetings on turf. The only way to conduct 50 meetings is to alternatively have races on the synthetic track,” he said.“We have a sand track here which is utilised for training. Before we put in a synthetic surface it is only advisable to have a trial on the sand track. When I was at Macau where we had a similar surface we used to train and race as well. We can improve the track here during the off season and it could be even better. But the trial meetings have been a good beginning and we can improve upon it.” The REC is on the development path to enhance its facilities for horses. The project includes 400 modern and fully equipped stables, as well as sampling/testing areas for horses and jockeys.The new facilities include an equine swimming pool, a farrier facility, a veterinary hospital, a horse walker, a dressage arena, paddocks, an administration block, a food court, computer centre, a multi-purpose hall, clubhouse and children’s play area. With these facilities in place, the REC will have one of the finest equestrian facilities in the world, with a unique mixture of ancient and modern Qatari heritage.Plans are afoot to launch the National Stud in Shamaal. The Qatari government has already sanctioned the project and it should be operational in two years.With the National Stud set to be a breeding centre, Qatar can boast of having more champion Pure Arabians and Thoroughbreds soon.“A national stud is very important for Qatar. It is the case with any country in the world. We do have stud farms but they are private. We plan to have 600 horses together and it is a big project for us. It is a very good decision by the Qatari government to come up with this facility in Shamaal. The farm will be functional in two years. Pure Arabian and Thoroughbred breeding is very important and we are keen on delivering the best,” al-Boenain said.Qatar can take pride in being the first in the Middle East to conduct the FEGENTRI World Championship races for ladies and gentlemen. Many lady riders from around the world have been regular visitors to Doha over the past three years and have appreciated the facilities here.In November the World Arabian Horse Organisation (WAHO) conference is set to take place. It will be yet another milestone for the REC. Al-Boenain is the chairman of WAHO.Trainer Julian Smart had words of appreciation for the Qatari government and the REC, but deemed things could be better. “Qatar has been doing all these wonderful things. By sponsoring races outside of Qatar they have put their country on the international map. The REC would do well to increase stake money in Qatar which will eventually encourage owners to buy more top class horses. This can only make the quality of races even better,” Smart said. “As far as participation in the international races is concerned, there were not many international contestants which took part in the international races.” Smart rued that the stake money offered wasn’t big enough to attract a strong field. “The previous two years had seen Dubai’s Godolphin horses race here in the Emir’s Thoroughbred Trophy and the international races. But there were none this year. The stake money offered was far from attractive to induce a top class international field for such a prestigious race.”The REC intends to raise the stakes for the forthcoming season and this could well see an increase in international participation. Plans are afoot to organise a racing carnival from November to March where Qatar hopes to bring in more horses from abroad to race here.As a sport-loving country, Qatar has hosted global events, such as the Asian Games, Qatar Open Tennis Championships, Asian Football Confederation Cup among others. If it could back the REC in reaching all its goals, it could well play host to major race events and attract the interest of the global horse racing industry in the near future. Given Qatar’s penchant for sporting glory, this won’t take long.
Qatari jockeys in the fast lane
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club has placed a keen emphasis on promoting local riders. It has earmarked one race per day for local jockeys over the last three years, which has given a huge boost to Qataris who are keen to pursue the sport.This initiative has produced the talented young Qatari female jockey Khadija Abdulwahed. The REC’s continued support and training abroad have helped her develop her riding skills.There are also many Qatari male riders who have been impressive over the past few years. However, REC General Manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain feels that they need to reach the “next level” with the support of owners and trainers.“With Qatari jockeys it has been a bit difficult. We at the REC don’t own horses. So there has to be a perfect relationship between owners and trainers to give more mounts for local riders,” he said.“Sometimes the relations are up and down. But by having one exclusive race each day for them, we are trying to help them. It will take them to a certain level. But in order to do better they need to compete with other professional jockeys. “I feel our riders are stagnated at one level. We need them to reach the next level, which would be a great achievement. That will happen only with a much bigger plan from the REC and the support of the owners and trainers as well,” al-Boenain said.
Sheikh Fahad and QIPCO fly the flag in BritainQatar’s Sheikh Fahad bin Abdulla al-Thani’s passion for horses has been one of the key factors in creating a new British Champions Series in the UK. Qatar Investment and Projects Development Holding Company (QIPCO), run by Sheikh Fahad with his two elder brothers here in Doha, will be the title sponsor for the new British Champions Series for two years.QIPCO will enjoy exclusive naming rights for the horseracing series and full partnership rights for the new £3mn British Champions Day climax at Ascot, which will be the richest race day ever staged in Britain.Under the terms of the deal, QIPCO has also become the official partner of the Guineas Festival at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile every April, a meeting that launches the British Champions Series with two classic races, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, as well as the prestigious Sussex Stakes, a key British Champions Series race staged as part of the Glorious Goodwood festival every July.“QIPCO has a lot of new investment in the UK and we were looking to raise awareness. This was perfect fit,” Sheikh Fahad has said.Not only has Sheikh Fahad clinched a deal to sponsor races in Britain, he has 42 horses including Makfi, racing under his own Pearl Bloodstock, which was formed in 2010.At 21, he has been making a mark in British racing circles having acquired a vast knowledge about the sport.Sheikh Fahad’s Makfi established himself as one of the best milers in a classic vintage, winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when defeating a field that included the likes of Group One winners Dick Turpin, Canford Cliffs and Hong Kong Champions Mile winner Xtension.