​NARA Australia

November 30, 2015

Story by Victoria Shaw, Images from Morhaf Al Assaf & Nadine Frampton

For the last three years I have had the privilege of broadcasting the Festival’s Arabian races, as Melbourne is now the second race location for the year on the Sheikh Mansoor Arabian global calendar in late January. Moonee Valley, Sandown and Caulfield have all hosted Arabian races broadcast to YAS television audiences in the United Arab Emirates. Australia Day this year bore witness to the running of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship race series for Pure Bred Arabians. Queensland jockey Isabella Teh aboard Djehlbi and Swedish rider Anna Pilroth with Keisha won the Australia Day events respectively.

November 30, 2015

The World Arabian Horse Racing Conference saw approximately four hundred people fly into the magnificent European city of Warsaw in Poland on the 26th and 27th of May this year.

To open proceedings, a press forum attended by many representatives of the European and Gulf racing media at the Marriott Hotel was the first of many events for the Arabian Racing symposium for 2015.

Images from Morhaf Al Assaf & The Polish Jockey Club

November 29, 2015

Entries for Arabian Racing Futurities 2016

November 12, 2015

I am writing to advise you of one of the most significant developments in rider safety in recent times.  
 

A new helmet which provides a 40-50% increase in safety is now available. The helmet is a result of several years of research which resulted in the strongest helmet standard in the world:  ARB HS 2012.

November 28, 2015

I know it's hard for some apprentices, and even jockeys for that matter, to get their head around feeling like they aren't doing enough on their mounts once they enter the straight and head towards the winning post.

The adrenaline starts flowing into the bloodstream, the dollar signs start flickering through the brain and grow.......

October 19, 2015

Morphettville Race Course

12th of March 2016

Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd, and Dubai International Arabian Racing, would like to announce that the National Arabian Racehorse Assoc.Ltd.  (NARA)  and the South Australian Jockey Club Inc.  (SAJC), will be hosting two races for Purebred Arabians  on March 12th, 2016. at the Morphettville Park Racecourse in South Australia.

While the final arrangements are to  be finalized, the event will consist of 2 Arabian Races,  the Shadwell Arabian Stallion Plate and the UAE Arabian Plate.

July 13, 2015

Trainers Fiona & Scott Green and Cameron Campbell discussed the issues faced with the wet weather in Far North Queensland over the past 6-7 weeks and the inability to do their gallop work at the tracks on Sundays for their 6 horses, due to wet tracks. This type of weather is very unusual for this time of the year and was never for seen as a possible concern for racing, with the Cairns Jockey Club cancelling 5 race meetings this calendar year due to the weather and track issues. 

As a result the trainers were also unable to schedule barrier trails for 3 new horses, therefore they had no option but to cancel the July 12th race at Cairns Jockey Club.  Both trainers galloped their horses yesterday and are hoping to be back on schedule with their training for the August 1st race at Mareeba. 

These trainers welcome all interested people in Far North Queensland who would be interested in learning more about getting starting in Arabian Horse Racing.  Fiona and Scott are based in Gordonvale and Cameron Campbell is at Koah on the Atherton Tablelands. Please contact NARA who can put you in touch with them. 

July 31, 2015

Arabian Race at Mareeba, Far Nth. Queensland.  The Arabian Race to be run Saturday August 1st, will be run at approximately 4.30pm

June 27, 2015

Many Arabian horse breeders and officials are concerned over the looks, abilities and purity of the Arabian race horse and put a big question mark to the modern Arabian race horses which have swamped the game and changed the nature of Arabian racing. For this reason, representatives of 11 different countries have founded the “Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC)”, initiated by HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. We have asked Deirdre Hyde, Member of the HARC-Steering Committee, about the goals and planned activities of this new organisation.

Please read this interview with Deirdre Hyde, Member of the HARC Steering Committee  - see page 46-48

June 18, 2015

The National Arabian Racehorse Association will be scheduling racing in both Queensland and Victoria, where we will be racing for well over $200,000 in prize money. With major races again scheduled for both states, this is your opportunity to get involved and maybe find some of the prize money going your way, while supporting the development of racing and enjoying the excitement and passion of the Purebred Arabian Racehorse.

If you are interested in being part of the Purebred Arabian Racing scene, now is the time to get involved.

Whether you are an owner and have a horse you wish to race, or you want to become a trainer, or are interested in breeding a horse to race or would just like to be involved with the excitement, thrill and enjoyment of Purebred Arabian racing, now is the time to start the journey.

May 27, 2015

View some photos from the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference Warsaw Poland.

Thank you Lara Sawaya and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival for the wonderful World Arabian Horse Racing Conference held in Warsaw. It is certainly a week to remember.

May 28, 2015

The stars of the three sessions held on Friday, the second day of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s World Arabian Horse Conference at the Ufficio Primo in Warsaw were ladies involved in various aspects of Arabian racing.

Moderated by one of the few lady race callers in the world, Victoria Shaw of Australia, the panel members included  Lara Sawaya (UAE), Joanna Majewska (Poland), Nadine Frampton (Australia), Karin van den Bos (The Netherlands), Denise Gault (US), Izeta Selimanjin (Croatia), HE Lulwa Alawadhi ( Bahrain) and Denise Hearst (US).

While some of the panel members agreed that there were a lot of hurdles as flat racing was still a man’s domain, others hared their experiences o how they broke in and rose to the top in their respective field.

May 29, 2015

The International Federation of Horse Racing Academies, IFHRA, at its General Assembly meeting held on Friday, May 29, 2015, at Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland, unveiled an innovative IFHRA Racing Scholarship Fund (RSF)
and also admitted 14 new members to the Federation.

An amount of US $100,000 has been earmarked for the IFHRA Racing Scholarship Fund and is expected to initially benefit between 10-20 apprentice jockeys to spend around two months each with reputed mentors.  The concept is based on providing students with valuable continuing educational opportunities in the event they choose a new path within horse racing and related industries.
 

May 28, 2015

Sunday’s race meeting at the Sluzewiec racecourse in Warsaw, Poland will be a special one as the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s three races will be part of the 9-race meeting.

The ‘Arabian Racing Festival’ meeting also includes the Festival’s Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Grade A), the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship races.

May 28, 2015

Opening Session - Role of handicappers and embryo transfer come under the scanner at WAHRC

Need to educate, regulate weight loss control in jockeys. Role of handicappers and embryo transfer come under the scanner at WAHRC  The three sessions of deliberations on the opening day of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s World Arabian Horse Conference at the Ufficio Primo in Warsaw on Wednesday saw majority of the 400-plus delegates agree to a few key issues concerning Purebred Arabian racing

May 30, 2015

Italy named as host for 7th edition in 2016 Spectacular end to WAHRC event in Warsaw The Wilonow Palace, a 17th century castle which survived the two World Wars and stands as a reminder of Poland before the 18th century was the back drop for a spectacular show that highlighted both the castle as well as the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival as the curtain came down on the three-day 6th World Arabian Horse Racing Conference. 

27 May, 2015

DAY 1 - The 6th annual World Arabian Horse Racing Conference (WAHRC) was declared open by the UAE Ambassador to Poland, His Excellency Azim Mirza Al Rahma at the Ufficio Primo in Warsaw, Poland on Thursday morning. 

Welcoming the 400 delegates from over 80 countries, HE Mirza said, “The UAE always cares for Purebred Arabians and this event is a tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May his soul rest in peace) who was the first and foremost in protecting and caring for Purebred Arabian horses. This is being continued by the present UAE leadership led by HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the other emirates.”

“This Conference is important for Poland which has a rich history of Arabian horses as well as to all the countries participating here and this event also boosts the UAE-Polish ties on many fronts,” he said.

27th May, 2015

Press Conference at 7pm Marriott Warsaw Ballroom.

Left to Right: Wojiech Bartoszek, Ursula Zawadzka, Agniezka Marczak, Genny Haynes, Mussallem Alamiri, Lara Sawaya, HE Assem Mirza Al Rahima, Shk Hamdan Al Sharqui, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Robert Grader, Ahmad Al Hamadi, Khalid Al Hamadi.

27 May, 2015

Jean-Francois Bernard - Deeply mourned

Warsaw, Poland

Jean-Francois Bernard, one of the top trainers of Purebred Arabian horses, passed away in France on Tuesday night.  A minute’s silence was observed to pay tribute to the Frenchman by the packed hall at the Mariott Warsaw Ballroom during Wednesday night’s press conference on the eve of the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference being held in Warsaw, Poland.

“He was a dear friend to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival  and was one of the trainers for His Highness Sheikh Mansoor. He was very popular and successful as a Arabian horse trainer and we will surely miss him,” said Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).

"Bernard in fact saddled the first winner of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival when Simmbad under Jean-Baptiste Hamel won the Zayed The First Listed Cup on August 12, 2009 when the Festival’s first ever overseas race was held at the Duindigt racecourse in The Netherlands", recalled Ms Sawaya.

A winner of many races in the Festival since then, one of the big moment’s for Jean-Francois Bernard when he won the Dubai Kahayla Classic in 2014 with Marmum Monlau.

Close friend of 40 years Jean-Francois Bernard said, “He was a champion trainer and had real love for Purebred Arabian horses. He had a great career as a Purebred Arabian horse trainer and had won races in the USA, UK, UAE, Qatar and many European countries.  He was straight and a very strong character.”

May 30, 2015

To be held on 6th & 7th February 2016

Showcasing the best Arabian Racehorse bloodlines in Australia.  It is with great excitement that we invite you to the Inaugural HARC & NARA Heritage Arabian Racing Festival to be held at Tatura Park Events Complex, Tatura Victoria.   This event will be hosted by the Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC) and the National Arabian Racehorse Association of Australia (NARA).  The HARC & NARA Heritage Arabian Racing Festival will be a much anticipated event on the Arabian Racing calendar, providing an opportunity to showcase the best Arabian Racehorse bloodlines in Australia – attracting both locally and internationally bred horses.  A weekend of education on Arabian Racing from conception to the track and beyond. 

23 May, 2015

HH Sheikh Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival will once again sponsor the  two NARA races for 2016 at Caulfield in January.

These along with the confirmation of our HARC sponsorship will again see racing in Australia increase for the 2015/2016 season.

27th May, 2015

Congratulations to Robyn & Stuart Key.

Licensed NSW jockey Robyn Freeman-Key and husband Stuart Key welcome addition to the Key family with the birth of James Stuart Key.

In a hurry to make his way into the world, James arrived 2 weeks early at 17:10,  on the 23rd of March 2015 at healthy weight of 6.6 pounds or 2.98kgs.

Robyn was invited to represent Australia in the International Female Jockey Challenge held in Stockholm, Sweden, in May 2014. 

23 May, 2015

Dubai International Arabian Races have notified NARA they will sponsor the races at the Gold Coast Turf Club in December 2016.

Over the next 4-6 weeks, we will be putting together the race calendar for the 2015/2016 season for both Queensland and Victoria. We will be inviting input from both our Owners and Trainers, to endeavor to have a racing season that will allow for maximum participation. This may require an open forum session to allow everyone to provide input.

May 20, 2015

NARA would like to congratulate Robert Thompson on his recent induction into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.  Robert requested to ride an Arabian race whilst in Cairns last August during the Cairns Cup Carnival, graciously jockey Shohei Kaya offered his mount for Robert, placing 2nd on Duo Park Oran on August 9, 2014 at Cairns Cup, for Scott and Fiona Green.

Robert has been in the racing industry for over 35 years, he thoroughly enjoyed his ride on Oran as you can tell by the smile on his face, whilst riding back to the mounting yard. Robert is an absolute gentlemen and it was an honour for Scott and Fiona Green to meet him. 

May 20, 2015

NARA Arabian Racing Futurity nominations are progressing very well.  We have nominations from NSW and Victoria so far and interest from all States and the ACT.  Nominations close on the 31st July 2015.  Remember for this year ONLY we are accepting foals born from 1 August 2012 thru to 31st July 2015.  Plus the normal unborn foal nominations.

May 20, 2015

Over the past 12 months, Arabian Horse Racing has shown strong development.  This has now raised the profile and resulted in interest from many sectors of the racing community and has provided the opportunity to increase our presence.

In Queensland, we will be tabling a similar proposal with RQL. In 2012 there was no racing in Queensland but it has progressed strongly over the past 2 years. This increased to 8 races with $64,000 prize money from Jan to Dec 2013 and increased to 13 races with $167,310 prize money from Jan to Dec 2014. The average prize money also increased from $8,000 to $12,870 per race.

In total, from Jan 2012 until now there have been 28 races with $419,730 in prize money. This has been strong growth over a 3 year period and the expectation is to increase this again for both the current and following season. To do this we will need growth in numbers, as we do have strong competition in the horse racing market.

May 20, 2015

We have also received notification from 2 of our major sponsors that our races for 2015/2016 will again be held at the Gold Coast in December and at Caulfield in January. These along with the confirmation of our HARC sponsorship will again see racing in Australia increase for the 2015/2016 season. 

May 20, 2015

On Wednesday 13th May, 2015, we had our meeting with Mr. Scott Whiteman (CEO) & Mr. Gary Buckley from Country Racing Victoria(CRV).

The basis of the meeting was to discuss the proposal to engage with two race clubs in Victoria to develop hubs for the Arabian racing community. The plan would see the following points provide structure and a gainful share for all partners. However, if other race clubs were interested in providing training facilities, we would be fully supportive of this. The final decision will be based on feedback and interest from the Arabian community across Victoria and southern NSW with the aim of providing greater access to tracks for NARA trainers & owners. 

April 9, 2015

It is with great regret that on the 9th of April, 2015, we have accepted the resignation of Dorothy Hodges as the Victorian NARA Representative.

Dorothy’s role as both State Representative and Steward has seen all benefit with the professionalism and experience she has brought to the sport.

Her wealth of knowledge and experience has been pivotal in educating not only our trainers, strappers etc. but the whole NARA team.

March 30, 2015

NARA wishes to advise all Trainers and Owners that we will be looking to conduct barrier trials in the coming weeks if we have the entries to do so.

If you are interested in trialling your horse or looking to receive a barrier certification, please send your request to NARA via our mailing address - naraaustralia@hotkey.net.au

When doing so, please provide the your details, the horse’s name and the name of the rider.

Once we have the confirmed numbers, notification of the date will be sent to all owners and trainers involved.

Thanks - The NARA team.

March 29, 2015

HERITAGE ARABIAN RACING CLUB

A CLUB FOR PEOPLE WITH A PASSION, WHO SUPPORT PRESERVATION WITH A PURPOSE.

For people with a passion for racing, and the purebred Arab horse, a very exciting event took place in Abu Dhabi on 28th February of this year, when a vision of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was realised. At his invitation twenty one like-minded people from eleven different countries all with a common belief in the pure bred Arabian came together and agreed ...

March 28, 2015

VICTORIA Shaw, Australia’s only female race caller, considers her calls at Albion Park on Friday night and Doomben on Saturday “an enormous responsibility” and hopes it proves a forerunner for other women to take roles in the industry.

Melbourne-based Shaw is in Brisbane as part of the Girls On Track promotion. She will call the Girls On Track Mares Final at Albion Park on Friday night and then Race 4 at Doomben on Saturday.

December 6, 2014

Thank you again for the extraordinary generosity of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shadwell Australasia for makming these races possible again. NARA was delighted to have the pleasure of the company of His Excellency Mirza Al Sayegh and Mr Masoud Saleh who travelled with a delegation from Dubai to officiate at the races.

March 19, 2015

It is with great regret that we have accepted the resignations of both Alistair Barnes as the South East Queensland NARA Representative and Nadine Frampton as Media Liaison and Promotions Officer. 

March 14, 2015

What is a Futurity?

A Futurity is the nomination of an unborn foal.  A futurity is showing a breeders confidence in their ability to produce a foal that they believe has the potential to be competitive in their chosen field.

March 9, 2015

THE H.H. SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK DARLEY AWARDS

 
On 3rd April 2015, once again the H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards will be celebrated in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

NARA Australian Nominees are.....

March 6, 2015

The NARA 2014 champions for the following categories for leading Trainer, Owner, Breeder and Jockey, will be based on overall performance from the 1st of January 2014 to the 31st of December 2014.

The other categories will include; Best Older Mare(5yo+), Best Racing Journalist, Best Racing TV Presenter, Best Photographer, Life Time Achievement.  See a full list of our NARA champions...

March 3, 2015

NARA wishes it known that, although we do not condone cruelty or neglect to any animal, the views of the Queensland Endurance Riders Association are not those of NARA and the Australian Arabian Racing Industry. NARA is an independent organization and has no affiliation with any endurance club or association.  Nor are we affiliated with the Arabian Horse Society of Australia Limited however we do value their encouragement and support.

 The NARA Team

February 7, 2015

The Arabian Racing Seminar held at Tatura Park Equestrian Centre on Saturday February 7, 2015, "wow, what a great day".  A really friendly group of people who really have the future of Arabian racing.

February 10, 2015

This afternoon a meeting was held with the CEO of Racing Victoria Ltd. (RVL) to discuss the recommencement of Arabian racing in Victoria. While we currently have one event annually with the Melbourne Racing Club, where we conduct 2 races, the meeting was to discuss the expansion of this to accommodate a full yearly race calendar. 

January 26, 2015

The Dynamic Duo triumphs once again to kick off the Australian leg of the 2015 HH Sheikh Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival Sportingbet Park Sandown Victoria Australia Day 2015

January 30, 2015

The NARA Board would like to thank the amazing NARA Team for their assistance and hard work in making the day at Sportingbet Park in Victoria the huge success it was.  Special thanks to our stewards, Alastair Barnes, Trent Sullivan, Dorothy Hodge and Simone Feltham, to Lisa Willan for her much appreciated administration support and to our NARA photographers. The voluntary assistance from this experienced professional team continues to be invaluable.  Thank you also to the trainers, owners, strappers, jockeys and supporters, many of who travelled thousands of kilometres.

Of course the biggest thank you must go to our amazing sponsor, HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Global Purebred Arabian Flat Racing Festival and to Lara Sawaya for her tireless work in organizing this outstanding event.