Arabian horses will show off their stamina and majesty at two international races at Sportingbet Park this Australia Day.
Sportingbet Park (Sandown) will host the exhibition races as part of the H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival.
They are the Australian legs of the H.H Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Race IFAHR Cup and the H.H Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup.
The National Arabian Racehorse Association, Victorian Arabian Jockey Club and the Melbourne Racing Club all strongly support this event.
The purebred Arabian horse is the oldest breed in the world. There has been growing interest in incorporating Arabian horse racing into Victorian thoroughbred race meetings.
There will be lots of action on and off the track at Sportingbet Park, with the Blue Diamond Previews for two-year-olds and the Group 3 Manfred Stakes.
There will also be hours of family entertainment and fun on offer including face painting, a jumping castle and mini-golf. For cricket enthusiasts, the Australia v India One Day International Tri-Series will be displayed on the big screen.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Racing, Martin Pakula
“Racing is a diverse pursuit that brings together people from all walks of life and from all corners of the globe.”
“This initiative is a great celebration of the links between Victorian racing and the Persian Gulf, a region with a very proud racing history.”
“Racing enthusiasts will have the chance to enjoy a great day out celebrating Australia Day while seeing the beauty and strength of Arabian horses in action and terrific thoroughbred racing.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020