Since 1996 Dubai has opened its doors to lovers of horse racing. The Dubai World Cup, which is held each year, is a sort of meeting ground for all the stars in horse racing. The venue for the World Cup is Meydan Racecourse, a course that lives up to international standards; for over a decade it has invited competitors from Europe, USA and Asia. The thoroughbred horse races are organized by the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA), and the chairman who presides over it is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is currently the Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. The 2014 competition includes a purebred Arabian contest along with eleven races. The regular races commenced in November 2013 which will run till March 2014, the final event of which is the World Cup.
Dubai has emerged as a racing centre mainly because Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai owned a Darley Stud & Godolphin Racing, that is well known for dealing with thoroughbred racing and breeding. When looking into the major facts of the race you will find that the Dubai World Cup is the world’s wealthiest horse race. In 2010 the revenue brought in from the night races amounted to ten million US Dollars. The conditions for racing are perfect, with jockeys competing on an all-weather surface called Tapeta. The course has introduced a number of young and talented jockeys too.
The Dubai World Cup is more like a festival and a large number of people gather at the Meydan Racecourse to enjoy the races and flaunt their attire. Those who attend the event deck themselves with flamboyant dresses, hats and flowers. It is truly remarkable to watch and be part of horse racing fashion in Dubai.
Visitors to Dubai can find any number of UAE hotels around the city to stay in while patronizing this event. You can easily search for Middle East hotels that offer some great packages for tourists. For luxurious rooms, excellent service and cuisine check out Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Middle East which offer the very best in accommodation, service and facilities.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.