Page 2 - November 2016 Thoroughbred Highlight

AT Festival for our Noble Descent
he seventh annual H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin The races are restricted to amateur, apprentice Zayed Al Nahyan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing riders and women riders which is how Olds College,
Festival was held this past weekend in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital of Abu Dhabi.
Now organized by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage
(ADACH) this Festival is
held each year as part
located in Olds Alberta in Canada, became involved in the Festival three years ago. Olds College Racetrack Program and Exercise Rider & Jockey Training Program Coordinator, Theresa Sealy was contacted
of the strategy aiming to harness the pride of the United Arab Emirates people, strengthen inter- cultural dialogue and increase an appreciation for different cultures.
Created speci cally
to preserve heritage sports, the Festival
aims to introduce the peoples of the world to the UAE heritage and the importance of Arabian horses and thus in turn encourage its citizens to promote, breed and buy pure-bred Arabian horses.
The Global Arabian
Flat Racing Festival itself
brings together the more
than 800 participants of
the various Arabian at
races held throughout
the year around the
world. Arabian horses
and their owners, grooms
and competing jockeys
are invited, all expenses
paid by the Festival organizers, to attend the Festival which includes gala evening events, conferences, and the divisional race nals where the winners of the races held throughout the year compete for the championship in each race division.
These Arabian at divisional races are held
from February to October in countries including Switzerland, the United States, Italy, United Kingdom, Poland, France, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as Australia, Bahrain and others.
by the Festival coordinator who was looking to invite amateurs, apprentices and female riders from Canada to compete in the various races offered throughout the world, all expenses paid.
This year, Apprentice Jockey Brandon Duchaine competed in Rome, Italy; Jockey Corinne Andros competed
in Casablanca, Morocco;
and Jockey Janine Smith competed in the Netherlands. While each did not win their various division races, all were invited to attend the two day Festival and Conference.
The conference portion of the Festival includes a terri c opportunity for the riders
to learn techniques from various coaches from around the world as well as speak with nutrition experts from the renowned University of Liverpool.
Kirsty Nault, Thoroughbred Trainer and Exercise Rider instructor at Olds College and Horse Racing Alberta,
who funds the Racetrack Program at Olds College, Manager of Backstretch Programs, Jim Hagen, joined Theresa Sealy at the Festival this year.
All Festival attendees are expected to attend the Black-Tie Gala at the Emirates Palace on November 12 as well as the Sports Awards, and Championship Races on November 13.
Part of the Festival includes the annual meeting of the International Federation of Horse Racing
Jockey Corinne Andros (left) competed in Casablanca, Morocco and Jockey Janine Smith competed in the Netherlands.
Jockey Brandon Duchaine competed in Rome, Italy
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 2 - November 2016