Arabian Racing Cup's Darley Awards ceremony 'The Darley Awards-Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak' award ceremony sponsored by the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, and H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union and the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and the 27th Arabian Racing Cup's Darley Awards ceremony were organised yesterday Friday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, U.S.A. to honour the most outstanding performers in Purebred Arabian racing.
The champions in the 11 categories were named during the ceremony. The prize-presentation ceremony was attended by Dr Wadoda Badran, Director-General of the Arab Women Organisation; Abdulla Al Subosi, UAE Consul General in Los Angeles; Sami Jassim al Boenain, Chairman of the International Federation for Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR); Lara Sawaya, Director of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee (IFAHR); Ali Mosa Al Khamiri, director of Dubai Equestrian Club; Kinsman Wright, Darley Award Chairman, as well as Dennis Juliet, from the Arabian Racing Cup besides the festival's sponsors and a big number of Arabian horse breeders, owners, jockeys and lady jockeys from around the globe.
The best Arabian horses and people of the industry were awarded with titles as the 2013 Champions of Arabian Racing in the United States. These awards are listed here: 3 YEAR OLD COLT OR GELDING - Thess Is Awesome; 3 YEAR OLD FILLY - Dhaan; 4 YEAR OLD COLT OR GELDING - Smoke House 4 YEAR OLD FILLY - Mahra T; OLDER HORSE - So Big Is Better; OLDER MARE - Ms Dixie; OWNER - Mark Powell; BREEDER - Bill Waldron; TRAINER - Scott Powell; JOCKEY - Juan Torres; HORSE OF THE YEAR - SO BIG IS BETTER.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Abdulla Al Subosi, UAE Consul General in Los Angles, said sponsoring the prestigious event is a source of pride for U.A.E and further promotes the country's relations with the rest of the world, and U.S.A. in particular, in line with directives from President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Al Subosi praised the support extended by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs to Arabian horses and races.
Often referred to as the "Oscars" of Arabian racing, sharing the spotlight on the Dolby Theater stage yesterday evening are the H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards for Ladies. These elite international Awards are presented in the name of Her Highness to outstanding women in Arabian racing globally in 2013. Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, also announced the Ladies finalists in the eleven categories in the coming weeks. These awards are determined by an international panel of distinguished judges from 8 countries, including the UAE, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon, Netherlands, and United States.
Chartered in 1983, the Arabian Racing Cup is a nonprofit corporation founded by Dr. Sam Harrison and directed by its Board of Stewards. The Cup is dedicated to the international promotion of Arabian Racing, and in 2012, joined together with the H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival to promote this prestigious Darley Awards event.
US Darley Awards is also made up of 11 categories; five candidates have been nominated for each category to compete for the Award. The categories are: Three year old colt or gelding, three year old filly, four year old colt or gelding, four year old filly , older horse, older mare, owner, breeder, trainer, jockey, horse of the year.
Supported by an extensive list of international sponsors, the Darley Awards are under the direction of Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Festival, and organised by Arabian Racing Cup, the Abu Dhabi Tourism '&' Culture Authority, coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in association with International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities, Emirates Racing Authority, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, and supported by General Authority of Youth '&' Sports Welfare. Emirates Airlines is the official carrier.
Source: WAM