Dubai Golden Shaheen
A Premier International Arabian Horse championship

Dubai Golden Shaheen, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) on the dirt course at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai in late March.

It was first run in December 1993 as the Nad Al Sheba Sprint, and its place in the calendar was moved in 1996 to be included in the Dubai World Cup Night held annually in March. The race took its present name in 2000 and it attained Group 1 status in 2002.

The Dubai Golden Shaheen currently offers a purse of US$2 million.

Speed record, Dubai Golden Shaheen:
1:08.10 - Big Jag (2000)

Most wins, Dubai Golden Shaheen:
2 - Caller One (2001, 2002)

Most wins by a jockey, Dubai Golden Shaheen:
2 - Gary Stevens (1999, 2002)
2 - Alex Solis (2000, 2004)

Most wins by a trainer, Dubai Golden Shaheen:
2 - Dhruba Selvaratnam (1998, 1999)
2 - James Chapman (2001, 2002)

Most wins by an owne, Dubai Golden Shaheen:
2 - Carolyn Chapman & Theresa McArthur (2001, 2002)

The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The race is operated through the Emirates Horse Racing Authority (EHRA) whose Chairman is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs of United Arab Emirates.

The race was the creation of the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who owns Darley Stud & Godolphin Racing, one of the world's leading thoroughbred breeding and racing operations.

Part of the Dubai World Cup Night of races, it has a purse of USD 6 million since 2004. It is a Group 1 flat race on dirt for Northern Hemisphere Thoroughbred four-year-olds & up and for Southern Hemisphere Thoroughbred three-year-olds & up run over a distance of 2,000 metres (10 furlongs) in late March.

The race's first winner was the future United States Hall of Fame thoroughbred, Cigar, owned by Allen E. Paulson.

In 2006 the Dubai World Cup was broadcast live on TVG Network and HRTV and taped later for showing on ABC. It was the first time that the race was shown on national TV in the United States.

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times are an early example, as is the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. It is often inextricably associated with gambling. The common nickname for horse racing is The Sport of Kings.

The big race in the UAE is the Dubai World Cup, a race with a purse of six million dollars, making it the largest purse in the world. Within around two and a half years time Dubai will have a horse racing city named Meydan.

There is no parimutuel betting in the UAE.

The style of racing, the distances and the type of events varies very much by the country in which the race is occurring, and many countries offer different types of horse races.

In the United States, races can occur on flat surfaces of either dirt, polytrack, or grass, generally Thoroughbred racing; other tracks offer Quarter Horse racing and harness racing, or combinations of these three types of racing. Racing with other breeds, such as Arabian horse racing, is found on a limited basis. American Thoroughbred races are run at a wide variety of distances, most commonly from 5 furlongs to 1½ miles (2414 m); with this in mind, breeders of Thoroughbred race horses are able to breed horses that excel at a particular distance.

As you might expect from a country enamoured with all things equine, recreational riding is well catered for in the UAE. Lessons suitable for all abilities are available and desert rides are popular for the more experienced. Most enthusiasts have their own equipment but you can usually purchase or hire a hat if necessary. Rates vary depending on your requirements. Club Joumana, Jebel Ali Hotel, Dubai (04 8836000 has six horses and can provide lessons and hacks as well as desert rides.

Dubai Equestrian Centre is located near the camel race track Nad al-Sheba The centre has 147 horses and extensive facilities, including floodlit arena, riding school arenas and dressage arenas.

Jebel Ali Equestrian Club, Jebel Ali Village (04 8845485) is an approved branch of the British Pony Club and offers lessons for children and adults. Hacking, dressage and jumping are also available

Dubai, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dubai can either refer to one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), or that emirate's main city, sometimes called "Dubai city" to distinguish it from the emirate.
The modern emirate of Dubai was created consequent with the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. However, written accounts documenting the existence of the city have existed at least 150 years prior to the formation of the UAE. Dubai shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi.[4] Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's legislature.[5] Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. The emirates' current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from trade, manufacturing and financial services.[6] Revenues from petroleum and natural gas contribute less than 6% (2006)[7] of Dubai's US$ 37 billion economy (2005).[8] Dubai has attracted world-wide attention through innovative real estate projects [9] and sports events. This increased attention, coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub, has also highlighted human rights issues concerning its largely foreign workforce. Tourism in Dubai is an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign dollars into the emirate. Dubai's lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping, but also on its possession of other ancient and modern attractions.
Dubai is the second most populous emirate of the seven emirates of United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi. It is distinct from other members of the UAE in that revenues from oil account for only 3% of its gross domestic product. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) and now, increasingly, from tourism.

Burj Dubai

Burj Dubaia tower rising in the booming Gulf emirate, has become the tallest building in the world at 512.1 metres (1,680 feet), surpassing Taiwan’s Taipei 101 which is 508 metres (1,667 feet) tall. It has 141 storeys, more than any other building in the world. Dubai is now the center of the universe for new and exotic construction.

Ski Dome
The first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. This unique resort spans 22,500 square metres, which is temperature controlled at -1° to -2°, and covered with real snow throughout the year. This ski resort indoor, will comprise inter alia a directional ski piste and tracks of snowboard (with 6 000 tons of true snow).

Hydropolis - The Underwater Hotel
Entirely assembled in Germany. It will include three elements: the land station, where guests will be welcomed, the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel, and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex. It is one of the largest contemporary construction projects in the world

The World
300 artificial islands, seen sky will form a planisphere. The World, the island is close to major transportation hubs and is only a 15-minute boat ride to and from Dubai’s mainland. Coral Island is a unique combination of absolute privacy and proximity to everything The World offers

Dubai Sports City
This immense sporting complex of 7.5 km will accomodate sports such as the cricket, the golf, Rugby, football, the sports of ground, track, and interior (tennis shoe, handball, volley ball). Hotels, residences and villas are also envisaged.

text is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia