The committee of the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) is delighted to announce that Dubai Duty Free will be adding their support to the showcase day of UK Arabian racing by sponsoring a Gr.1 PA race at Newbury Racecourse on Sunday 26^th July 2015.

Sponsors for the day are UAE based companies and organisations which seek not only to help DIAR patron HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum,  Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, promote the sport of Arabian horse racing to a wider audience, but strengthen their international commercial and diplomatic ties.

Dubai Duty Free has been sponsoring sporting events as an integral part of their marketing strategy since 1983.  As a UAE based company and a long-time sponsor of Thoroughbred racing at Newbury Racecourse, Dubai Duty Free presented an ideal partnership for the feature DIAR day which is already endorsed by companies such as Emirates Airline, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Emirates NBD, Jebel Ali Racecourse and Emirates Equestrian Federation.

Dubai Duty Free will be sponsoring the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes (Gr.1 PA); a 1m2f contest for 4 year old + fillies and mares.  Last year this race was won by DJAINKA DES FORGES who went on to win the €1,000,000 Gr.1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day.  She is now the joint highest rated Arabian filly in the world, showing that the Hatta International is an integral part of the international pattern race calendar.

Mirza Al Sayegh (Chairman of DIAR) has worked hard with his committee to secure the addition of Dubai Duty Free to the list of sponsors for this event:

“We are delighted to be welcoming Dubai Duty Free as a sponsor to DIAR – Newbury on 26^th July 2015.  Dubai Duty Free is a prestigious and well-loved brand, not just in the UAE but across the world and we hope that this will be the start of a long and happy alliance.  We would like to thank Mr Colm McLoughlin and the management team of Dubai Duty Free for their support.”

Commenting on the sponsorship, Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin said, “We are glad to support the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) taking place at the historic Newbury Racecourse in July, which is a new addition to our ever growing sports portfolio in sponsoring horseracing overseas.”

“Horseracing sponsorship enables us to promote the Dubai Duty Free brand, which is a very important part of fulfilling our original brief to help promote Dubai, which remains in our mission statement to this day,” added McLoughlin.

Salah Tahlak, Senior Vice President-Corporate Communications of Dubai Duty Free also said: “Horseracing has always been a part of our marketing strategy and especially in Newbury as we have been sponsoring many races since 1996.  We are delighted to be associated with Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) to sponsor the Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes (Gr.1 PA). This is our first time to be involved in such a prestigious Arabian Racing that will give Dubai Duty Free extra mileage which is a great initiative to promote Dubai and the UAE to the world.”

Genny Haynes of the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) commented:  “The Arabian Racing Organisation is delighted to welcome Dubai Duty Free as a new sponsor to the flagship day of International Arabian racing in the UK. The Dubai International Arabian Races are renowned worldwide and we look forward to Dubai Duty Free’s involvement as part of this incredible initiative of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”

The addition of Dubai Duty Free to this day also serves to strengthen their continued relationship with Newbury Racecourse as Julian Thick, CEO of Newbury Racecourse, acknowledges:

“Dubai Duty Free has been sponsoring at Newbury for 20 years, so we are delighted that the company has decided to support Dubai International Arabian Races in such generous fashion too. This day is one of the highlights of our summer season and a hugely popular event in the Newbury area and we are looking forward to the 2015 renewal on 26th July being the best yet.”

The full list of races and sponsors for the DIAR – Newbury 26^th July 2015 is:

 

Fly Emirates Premier Handicap Stakes

Rotana Hotels and Resorts Premier Handicap Stakes

Emirates NBD International Stakes

Jebel Ali Racecourse Zaabeel International Stakes (Group 1 PA

Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes (Group 1 PA)

Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Group 1 PA)

Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Group 2 PA)

National Academy of Indian Payroll Handicap Stakes

Gates open at Newbury Racecourse on 26^th July at 12noon and entrance is FREE for all race-goers.  There is also the opportunity to register in advance for an exclusive chance to win a trip to Dubai courtesy of Emirates Airline and Rotana Hotels & Resorts at: http://www.diar2015.com

As well as top –class international racing, the day features a large range of family activities and competitions, full details of which will be updated on the DIAR website in the lead up to the event: www.diaraces.com.

The showcase day at Newbury is supported by a series of international warm up races in the UK and Holland. Each race acts as a preparation for a key race on 26^th July.  Horses that are placed in the preparation races and go on to win at Newbury on 26^th July will be awarded a bonus amount of prize money in addition to their winnings of the feature race.  For more details of the DIAR bonus races and prize fund visit: www.diaraces.com.