All you need to know about the Emirates Racing Authority
Horse racing is considered one of the most thrilling spectator sports. In the UAE, it holds a special place in the sporting circuit, thanks to its deep roots in Arabian heritage and culture. A number of top horse racing tournaments take place in the UAE. The Dubai World Cup is the biggest of them all, with as many as 50,000 people attending this annual mega event. The Emirates Racing Authority in the UAE governs all activities involving horse racing as a professional sport in the country.
ALL ABOUT THE EMIRATES RACING AUTHORITY
The officially recognised governing body for horse racing in the UAE is the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA). All official equestrian racing tournaments in the country are held after approval from ERA.
CORE FUNCTIONS OF EMIRATES RACE AUTHORITY
The ERA has four key functions. Here’s an overview of the authority’s activities:
- To develop, alter, amend and administer horse racing rules in the UAE.
- Provide an opportunity for the general public to learn about horse racing and how to participate in it.
- Improve the quality of racing by encouraging horse breeding and ownership.
- Promote horse racing on an international level.
- Promote tourism, commerce and trade in the UAE.
DEPARTMENTS AT THE EMIRATES RACE AUTHORITY
ERA has different departments to look after various aspects of horse racing in the UAE.
THE REGISTRY
The Registry, as you can guess, is responsible for the registration of all racing participants including horses. It also manages the Emirates Thoroughbred Stud Book and Non-Thoroughbred Register. All Purebred Arabian horses for racing purposes have to be registered with the Emirates Arabian Horse Society. The second step is registration with the ERA Registry office.
ARABIC DEPARTMENT
Emirates Racing Authority’s Arabic department provides critical support to all stakeholders. It offers liaison services for all industry participants. This includes translation, interpretation and advisory services. Operational procedures and regulatory requirements are understood by industry participants due to their continued expert technical support. Moreover, the official racecards for all UAE race meetings are printed here in both English and Arabic.
HANDICAPPING
The handicapping department allocates weights to be carried by every participating horse in a handicap race. The objective is to ensure competitiveness by equalising chances for all horses.
A database of all the registered horses is maintained to assign them weight and rating of all handicaps. The correct weights are published at the entry and deceleration stages of the race meeting by the department. All such decisions follow fairness and impartiality. This is possible only because handicappers reassess the performance of every horse after each race, with adjustments made according to the results. The Emirates Race Authority Calendar is also developed in consultation with race clubs.
INTEGRITY DEPARTMENT
The Stewards/Integrity department is another section that plays a pivotal role. As the name suggests, their job description is to maintain a high level of integrity at all horse racing events in the UAE. All industry participants must act according to the rules and instructions handed out by the ERA. The department’s team is also part of the rule review process. Moreover, they are also responsible for providing a safe working environment for riders and horses.
HORSE AUCTION OVERSIGHT
Finally, there is the horse auction oversight. As per UAE law, any individual who wishes to engage in a horse auction has to seek prior permission from ERA. This department issues horse auction permits and if any individual conducts an auction without authorisation, they end up facing legal action.
ERA BOARD
The ERA Board ensures that all its departments function as per required standards. It was formed by Emiri Decree and includes the following members:
- Chairman: H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Vice-Chairman: Mr Saeed Humaid Al-Tayer
- Members: Mr Malih Lahej Al Basti, Mr Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Shehhi and Mr Matar Al Yabhouni
ERA MEMBERSHIPS
ERA is part of different regional and global boards that regulate the sport. It is a significant contributor to many sub-committees in these boards. The list of authorities includes:
- World Racehorse Rankings Committee (WRRC)
- International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians (ICRAV)
- Asian Stud Book Conference
- International Movement of Horses Committee (IMHC)
EMIRATES RACE AUTHORITY CALENDAR
The Emirates Race Authority Calendar outlines the planned races according to their venue. The race season starts from October and continues until March. The full calendar is available on the ERA’s official website. This period sees approximately 60 meetings held. The prize money per race, on average, is around USD 15,000. These races are held on turf and dirt, while the distance ranges from 1,000m to 3,200m. There are five major racecourses in the UAE.
- Meydan Racecourse Dubai (60,000 seating capacity)
- Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (5,000 seating capacity)
- Jebel Ali Racecourse (2,000 seating capacity)
- Sharjah Longines Racecourse
- Al-Ain Racecourse
ERA HORSE SALES
ERA holds an annual horses-in-training sale. Generally, it takes place at the end of the racing season, coinciding with the Super Thursday race meeting in early March. Through this sale, horses are redistributed among the regional racing community, making the whole circuit more competitive and interesting.
EMIRATES RACING AUTHORITY APP
The Emirates Racing Authority app is available for Android and iOS users. Download the app to receive regular news and updates about ERA and all horse racing events in the UAE.
For any queries, you can call the Emirates Racing Authority’s contact number +971-4-327-0077 or submit a request via their official website.
Emirates Racing Authority is credited by industry insiders for promoting the sport in the country and attracting international visitors. Some of the world’s most prestigious and lucrative horse racing tournaments are held in the UAE. Like horse riding, camel riding is also one of the traditional UAE sports.
Besides the elite level professional sport, a lot of people take up horse riding as a hobby. Here are the top places you can go horse riding in Dubai, and some more to take horse riding lessons in Dubai. Similarly, there are clubs where you can enjoy horse riding in Abu Dhabi. Other cities in the UAE also have horse riding facilities, like the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.
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