On Friday, the UAE racecourse will be welcoming back the racegoers as the season intends to get underway on that day.
Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority, Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmouk took to the media to announce the welcoming back of racing supporters at all five UAE racecourse after the country achieve significant success against the pandemic.
Speaking to a gathering of ERA officials, Sheikh Rashid said to the media: “We greatly missed our fans in the past season, and we look forward to welcoming them back following the go-ahead given by UAE authorities to return to normal operations while comprehensively observing all Covid-19 protocols.
“As we begin to host a series of exciting races and implement new strategic initiatives, we will continue to work with our stakeholders, club management and relevant authorities to ensure that the return to full capacity crowds at our racecourses is done in a controlled environment that prioritises safety.”
Jebel Ali Racecourse will be hosting the first racing event of the 2021/22 season on Thursday while Sharjah will take the mantle to host a six-racecard on Friday, and NAP bet will be available for these races ahead of time so the punters can quickly act on them.
Director General of the ERA, Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi added his opinion, saying: “We urge people attending racing events to fully abide by precautionary measures and respect the protocols to create a safe environment at our racecourses.”
Sheikh Rashid went on to announce the new initiatives for the new campaign which includes a programme to train an Emirati management talent in a bid to improve the development of the sport in the UAE.
“We already have substantial involvement from Emiratis through racehorse ownership, and we are pleased to be able to extend this opportunity to competent individuals to help steer and support our operations on race days,” said Sheikh Rashid.
For the 2021/22 campaign, the races will be expected to split into two divisions if a large number of declarations was received. The ERA confirmed that it will be compensating for the right prizes to be shared if there is a split. Connections will have to pay just a single-entry fee to attend the races that have been entered.
The ERA has also been reported to be looking at the possibility that could see the horses that were picked for the Dubai World Cup Carnival to compete at races in Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali Racecourse in major Patter Races like the Jebel Ali Stakes, Mile, National Day Cup, Mile, and Sprint. But this could only come to fruition if the regulations stemming from quarantine allows it.
For now, however, Carnival horses are only being cleared to compete at Carnival events.
In other news, Auckland made the headlines as it is set to host its first thoroughbred race meeting this campaign at Pukekohe Park next month. This event will be catering for Auckland-trained horses and they will also be serviced by jockeys and officials from Auckland as well.
Following the events and the regulations of the Covid-19, Racing was put on a temporary hold in the city of sails. Now, however, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR), New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and TAB NZ came together to agree on scheduling a race meeting at the south of Auckland on November 11.
