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Jebel Ali Racecourse set for new season

A total of 59 runners to compete in the Al Barsha Festival curtain raiser.

From left: Ahmad Hamad Al Suwaidi and Basem Zakaria at the Jebel Ali Racecourse Press conference in Dubai on Tuesday.Photo byMohammed Mustafa Khan/ Khaleej Times

Dubai: The Jebel Ali Racecourse management joined hands with its partners and sponsors to further entertains the faithful fans and spectators as the popular venue celebrates its 24^th anniversary with the launching of the new racing season on Friday afternoon.

The all-Thoroughbred six-race card curtain raiser, Al Barsha Festival, has attracted 59 runners to battle it to the wire for a total prize-money of Dh490,000 under the sponsorship of Shadwell, Al Shafar Investments, Arabian Scandinavian Insurance Company, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Al Redha Insurance and Al Tal Engineering.

Sharief Al Halawani, director general of the facility conveyed the greetings of the course patron Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and thanked Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, for his continued support without which nothing would have been achieved.

Speaking to newsmen at the Majlis Ballroom, he said: “We once again welcome all racegoers along with their families to spend a lovely afternoon at the hilly track while enjoying the thrill of the sport in a family friendly atmosphere and beautiful surroundings,” he said.

“We promise to make everyone happy. There’s an opportunity also for a lucky spectator to drive home a brand new car which will be drawn after the end of the sixth and final race on the card courtesy of Shaikh Hamdan. “This is to be added to the rich prizemoney of Dh60,000 to be claimed in the double-cast and pick six competitions against free coupons.

“That means all our faithful fans will have a chance to win in the pick-six competition even if they did not succeed in picking six or five out of six winners. Just take part and pick two winners in the first five races and you will have a chance to win one of the 20 prizes in cash besides the pick six and double tri-cast competitions,” he confirmed.

Mirza Al Sayegh, director of the office of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, addressed the audience on behalf of Shadwell Farms and reiterated that they will continue under the directives of the leading international horse owner and breeder to support the Jebel Ali and Al Ain racecourses.