News From BELGIUM

The Arabian Horse Racing Club of Belgium

Ostend, Wellington Race Course, 15th of August 2004, at 2p.m.

After long hesitations concerning the date and venue for the sixth Belgian edition of the President of the United Arab Emirates International Race-Day, we are pleased to announce that it finally take place on the 15th of August, in Ostend. Possibly this will be the last running of the highlight of the Belgian racing season for Arab horses at the Wellington race-track and the alternative venue might well be Sterrebeek. The U.A.E. Equestrian and Racing Federation, on behalf of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al NAHYAN, President of the United Arab Emirates, will support this year three races for Arab horses in Belgium. The ABU DHABI CHAMPIONSHIP for the 3-year-olds and the PRESIDENT OF THE U.A.E. CHALLENGE DERBY for the 4-year-olds have been established by His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the board of directors of the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation as the premier races for Arabian horses in Europe , with legs in Chantilly , Newmarket, Deauville and Ostend. To put emphasis on the legendary staying power of the “Drinkers of the Wind”, the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation again included a long race (3.700 m) in the race-card : The H.H. SHEIKH ZAYED AL NAHYAN INTERNATIONAL STAYERS HANDICAP, for 4-year olds and older, as the only international Handicap-race for Arab horses in Europe. It is a physiological characteristic of the desert steed: the high fraction of “slow” fibres in the composition of his muscles compared to the Thoroughbred, that makes the Arab horse particularly apt for the aerobic effort and therefore the most successful breed in endurance competition. Belgium, being situated at the cross-point of racing-tradition in Europe, and having itself several race-tracks of international standard, has, year after year, seen a representative international participation from South and North in both Group-III races, among others thanks to the very attractive purses of 13.500 Euro and 15.000 Euro respectively and 5.000 Euro for the Stayers Handicap. The quality of the Arab horses for racing has drastically improved over the last years, mainly thanks to the generous support from the Gulf States, by staging such prestigious race-days. The successes of the new generation of Belgian-bred and/or trained horses was proven during several international races of high reputation, like the Hamburg –leg in ’03 of the President of the UAE Challenge Derby for 4 y-olds won by Au Vol del Sol F (owned by Dirk Cavens and trained by Mrs. S.Braem), who later in the season placed third in the International race in Grossetto (Italy) and Ircalan D.A. ( bred in Belgium) who took a third place in the Derby of Newmarket for his breeder/owner/trainer Johan Verstrepen, beaten by Eau Royal, best horse in the Emirates. The quality of the leading horses in the Belgian leg of the UAE-sponsored races improved over the years, confirming that racing in Belgium is of a high international standard : lets just think of DORMADORA F ( also winner in France and 2° at the G.P.of HRH The Prince Moulay Rachid of Marocco, 2° in “Critérium des Pouliches (Gr.1)”), DAFFAQ GB (also winner in Germany and France, in Gr. I, 3° in Dubai: Kahayla Classic, Gr.1..), BEAU BAR F (also winner in Marocco,’04)…. The President of the U.A.E. International Race-Day needs no introduction with the normal race-goers, because they know the quality of these yearly “Emirates-day”, but will also be a unique occasion for tourists and newcomers to admire the “Drinker of the Wind”, the most beautifull of all horses, in full action. The infusion of Arab blood, contributed to the improvement of all other breeds of race and sport-horses as universal improver …. Come and experience the excitement of Arab racing on August the 15th, from 2 p.m. onwards at the Wellington-racetrack (Ostend). info : Nelly Philippot, President àf the Arabian Horse Racing Club of Belgium, Tel./fax: +32 / 61 61 14 21 or mob. : +32/ 496 304 401 ; e-mail : moirmonay@skynet.be

- Nelly Philippot / President of the Arabian Horse Racing Club of Belgium , Posted on 15 August 2004