Horse racing is one of the most exciting spectator sports in the world. Because of its strong roots in Arabian tradition and culture, it maintains a particular position in the athletic circuit in the UAE. A variety of prestigious horse racing competitions happen in the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai World Cup is the largest, with 50,000 people expected to attend this yearly mega event.
About Emirates Racing Authority
The Emirates Racing Authority governs all activities involving horse racing as a professional sport in the UAE. The Emirates Racing Authority is the UAE’s legally recognised governing organisation for horse racing (ERA). All official equestrian racing tournaments in the country happen after ERA’s approval.
The ERA Board formed a Steering Committee in 2006 to help it perform its obligations, focusing on examining racing laws and regulations, participant licencing, and horse medicine practises. By Emiri Decree, the Emirates Racing Authority was established.
The Emirates Racing Authority is the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) globally recognised regulating organisation for horse racing. Through its Stewarding and Veterinary Departments, the ERA oversees all elements sport, including adoption and execution of the UAE Rules of Racing. All trainers, jockeys, officials, and stable workers must be licenced as well.
The ERA Registry Office oversees and processes horse registration and all entries and declarations for all UAE race meetings. The Emirates Thoroughbred Stud Book, which is internationally recognised, is also administered by the ERA.
Furthermore, the Steering Committee promotes organisational best practices, guarantees adherence to applicable international standards, gives strategic direction to the UAE racing sector, and resolves any racing concerns that may emerge on a daily basis throughout the racing season.
Responsibilities of Emirates Racing Authority (ERA)
The Emirates Racing Authority was created for the following reasons:
- To make, change, amend, and administer the Rules of the United Arab Emirates.
- To carry out the trade or business of racecourse management, as well as education, entertainment, and public involvement in horse racing.
- Encourage horse breeding and ownership in the UAE, as well as increase racing quality.
- To organise, represent, and promote international horse racing.
- Promote tourism, trade, and business in the United Arab Emirates.
ERA’s Board of Directors
The ERA Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring and carrying Authority’s duties and functions. The following are the members of the ERA Board of Directors:
- Chairman: HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Vice-Chairman HE Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmouk Al Maktoum
- Member: HE Matar Suhail Ali Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri
- Member: Mr. Mohammed Saeed Rashid Ali Al Shehhi
Contributions of ERA
The ERA is a prominent member of the Asian Racing Federation and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, as well as a significant contributor to other important regulatory bodies and committees, including:
- Asian Stud Book Conference
- World Racehorse Rankings Committee (WRRC)
- International Movement of Horses Committee (IMHC)
- International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians (ICRAV)
Departments of Emirates Racing Authority
THE EMIRATES RACE AUTHORITY has numerous divisions responsible for various horse racing elements in the UAE. To offer a service to industry players and oversee racing in the UAE on an operational level, the ERA functional organisation consists of the following Departmental functions:
- Registry
- Arabic
- Handicapping
- Integrity / Stewards
- Veterinary
The Registry Department
The ERA Registry Office is in charge of registering all human and equine race competitors in the UAE. The Registry Office manages the Emirates Thoroughbred Stud Book and Non-Thoroughbred Register. All thoroughbred horses must be registered with the Registry Office before racing.
For racing purposes, all purebred Arabian horses must be registered with the Emirates Arabian Horse Society. The ERA Registry office must be registered as the second step. All thoroughbred Arabian horses used for racing must first be registered with the Emirates Arabian Horse Society. Then must submit the passport to the ERA Registry Office for registration.
The Registry Office processes entries and declarations for all race meetings held in the UAE. The Registry Office distributes race fields for all race meetings held in the UAE.
Department Of Arabic
All stakeholders benefit from the Arabic section of the Emirates Racing Authority. All industrial participants benefit from the Arabic Department’s interface services. This covers services such as translation, interpretation, and consulting.
The Arabic Department provides professional technical guidance to industry participants in order to guarantee their ongoing growth and understanding of all elements of the UAE racing business, including operational processes and regulatory standards, as part of its duties.
The Arabic Department is also in charge of preparing the official racecards for all UAE race meets, which entails translating all necessary horse and form data from English to Arabic (racecards are printed in both languages).
Handicapping
The Handicapper’s principal goal is to guarantee that races are run competitively by allocating weights to each horse in a handicap event. In handicap races, the weights assigned to horses are intended to make all horses’ chances in the race equal.
The Handicapper’s primary responsibilities include maintaining a database of official Ratings for all registered horses in order to give weight to each horse entered in Handicap and Rating-related events. The Handicapper is in charge of ensuring that the stated weights at the entry and declaration phases of race meetings are true and that the Ratings (weights) have been determined fairly and impartially.
To do this, the Handicapper evaluates each racehorse’s performance after each race and makes any required adjustments to its rating. Horses who perform well will receive a higher Rating, whereas horses that do not perform well will receive a lower Rating.
The ERA Handicapper is also in charge of organising the UAE racing schedule each season in collaboration with the race clubs.
Integrity / Stewards
The Stewards / Integrity Department’s primary goal is to guarantee that racing in the UAE, in general, and race meets in particular, are controlled and performed with high levels of integrity. The Stewards charter focuses on managing the racing sector and ensuring that all race meetings are held and industry participants conduct themselves and their business in accordance with the ERA’s Rules of Racing and Instructions.
The Stewards / Integrity Department is also responsible for the safety and well-being of all industry participants, with the goal of ensuring that both horses and riders operate in a safe environment. The Stewards / Integrity Department oversees the ERA’s rule-making process and coordinates the activities of the ERA Licensing Committee.
Horse Auctions
The Emirates Racing Authority is responsible for overseeing all horse auctions in line with Prime Minister Decision No. (1) of 2013. As a result, anybody or entity interested in holding a horse auction (public or private) must first request authorization from the Emirates Racing Authority.
Failure to follow the terms of the above-mentioned Ministerial Decision, as well as the contents of this circular, may result in legal action being taken against the auction organiser.
Schedule Of the Emirates Race Authority
The Emirates Race Authority Calendar lists the upcoming races in order of their location. The racing season starts in October and lasts until March. The whole calendar may be seen on the ERA’s official website. Approximately 60 meetings will be held over this time span.
Industry insiders praise the Emirates Racing Authority with developing the sport in the country and drawing international tourists. The UAE hosts some of the most famous and profitable horse racing competitions in the world. Camel riding, like horseback riding, is a traditional UAE sport.
On average, each race has a prize purse of approximately USD 15,000 in it. The distances span from 1,000m to 3,200m, and the races are contested on both grass and dirt. In the United Arab Emirates, there are five central racetracks.
- 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 Annual Horse Sales
An annual horse-in-training sale is held by ERA. It usually takes place towards the end of the racing season, in early March, and coincides with the Super Thursday race meeting. Horses are dispersed around the area racing community as a result of this transaction, making the entire circuit more competitive and exciting.
App For the Emirates Racing Authority
Users of Android and iOS may download the Emirates Racing Authority App. You can get frequent news and updates about ERA and other horse racing events in the UAE by downloading the app.
Aside from professional horseback riding, many people take up horseback riding as a pastime. Here are some of the best spots in Dubai to go horseback riding, as well as several places where you may take horseback riding lessons. In Abu Dhabi, there are also clubs where you may go horseback riding. Horse riding is also available in other towns in the UAE, such as the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting, and Golf Club.
Contact Emirates Racing authority
You can contact the Emirates Racing Authority at +971-4-327-0077 or make a request on their official website if you have any questions at ( www.emiratesracing.com ).
