​NARA Australia

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, took the opportunity at the first press conference of the 2014 Adihex in Abu Dhabi to announce the creation of a Triple Crown in Europe and a Triple Jewel in the United States.

Lara Sawaya was accompanied by the many sponsors involved in the festival, including Mubarak Al Nuaimi, TCA Abu Dhabi, Sief Al Fashdi, ADNEC, Sheikh Hamdan Al Sharqi, Invest AD, Ahmad Al Qubaisi, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Adnan Al Nuaimi, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ahmad Al Fahim, TDIC and Nadim Lahad,
Emirates Airlines.
 

All of the sponsors agreed that the Festival had come a long way since its inception and that it was growing in the right direction. ADNEC is a new sponsor at the Festival and Sief Al Fashdi said they were very happy to be a participant for the first time
and hoped to support the event
in the coming years.

The Triple Jewel USA

Americans, Kathy Smoke from the Arabian Jockey Club and Sam Vasquez from the Arabian Racing Cup both explained the concept of the Triple Jewel US which promises a bonus of US$ 150 000 to the horse that accumulates most points in the three dedicated races.

Kathy Smokes said: “Thank you for introducing the festival around the world. It came at a time when we needed stimulation in the States. Every year there is something new and this year, Lara has done it again, she has surprised us. She has introduced a new series, which will be promoted as the Triple Jewel.” And Sam Vasquez added: “There is renewed interest in Arabian Racing. The Jewels will be exciting. It will start with a race at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas, followed by a race in San Francisco and in Hollywood.” The race conditions of the three races have already been determined and Kathy Smokes explained: “The distances of the Jewel races are three different distances. We start in Texas with a race over 7 Furlongs and then move to California, to San Francisco where on the 5th of July we will have a six furlongs race, wh ich is already well established. And then the final, the Diamond race, will be held at Los Alamitos in California around the 20th September. That race will really test the horses as it is run over the mile. Conditions will be the same for each race.”

Prize-money for the races won’t change pointed out Lara Sawaya, but the bonus of US$
150 000 could even attract horses from abroad, as all three of the Triple Jewel races are international races. Lara Sawaya said: “It was His Highness Sheikh Monsoor who wanted this Triple Jewel, it is his idea, his innovation. He loves the breed and that is why he would like to support the horse that runs in two or even all three races. The winner will get 8 points, while runner-up and third placed will also receive points. The one with the highest number of points will receive the bonus. As to the possible international raiders, we offer accommodation and will pay the entry fees for the races. The bonus will be paid out in November in Abu Dhabi.”

Hollywood is also the setting for the Darly awards, which will be awarded in the Dolby Theatre, which also hosts the Oscars. There are 13 categories, including two new ones, one which is dedicated to a female endurance jockey, who will be nominated by the FEI member countries, while the other award is going to recognise the efforts of those women who work in the shadow, behind the scenes. That lady might work for a sponsor or for any other company.

There is also going to be a Triple Crown Europe, with a bonus of 50 000 Euros, which will already be awarded this year to Ameretto, a winner of three races. Lara Sawaya explained: “The Europe Triple Crown started in 2010 but in this year, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor, the bonus of 50 000 Euros will be awarded to Ameretto. He will be able to collect his prize on the 9th November in Abu Dhabi. The countries that will carry Triple Crown races next year will be France, Holland and Poland. Horses entered must be four-year-olds.