The Dubai Equestrian Club will host the CEN 119 km Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline on March 16, 2019. This prestigious event is the highlight of the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup Festival, which commenced on March 11. Three more compelling rides added great value to this celebration of endurance riding, catering to individual and private stables, lady riders and mares. The festival is sponsored by Meydan Pillar Partners Emirates Airline and is held at the purpose-built state-of-the-art endurance facility, Dubai International Endurance City.
Named for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, the week-long festival opened with the CEN 119 km Dubai Crown Prince Ride for Ladies on Monday, March 11. This was followed by the CEN 119 km Dubai Crown Prince Ride Restricted to Private Stables/Individuals on Tuesday, March 12, and the CEN 119 km Yamamah Endurance Cup for Mares on Wednesday, March 13. The Yamamah Cup is notably significant as it is named after the mare the Crown Prince rode to win the 2014 World Equestrian Games Endurance gold medal in France.
The finale, the CEN 119 km Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, will be flagged off on Saturday, March 16th. A host of international riders, including world title holders, will compete alongside local talent.
The festival continues to draw inspiration from HH Sheikh Hamdan and his tireless contribution to the development of sport in Dubai and the UAE. The Crown Prince is Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, where he serves as a role model for locals and expats alike. A world-class endurance athlete himself and winner of several prominent international titles, he is committed to offering locals a variety of platforms which allows them to participate in and excel in sport.
The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival is one such effort, which allows riders and horses from the region to compete against elite international athletes.
Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre, said: “Emirates is proud to again be sponsoring the HH Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup, underscoring our long-standing support of the growth and development of horse racing and equestrian sports in our home base of Dubai. Endurance racing is a strategic test of horsemanship, challenging the ability of the horse and the rider’s conditioning skills to complete the rigorous terrain. Emirates is delighted to sponsor this event and we are confident that this year’s race will be extraordinarily successful.”
Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, General Manager of DEC, said: “The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival is one of our premier events and this year we look forward to welcoming a larger contingent of riders from across the world and the region.
“We have made every effort to prepare our world-class venue at DIEC and are confident we will conduct a safe and successful celebration of endurance riding. Horse welfare is at the centre of all our events and we bring together a highly qualified team of veterinary experts who operate with the very best clinical facilities, in keeping with international standards, to carry out the stipulated tests during the course of each ride.
“We would also like to thank Emirates Airline for their support and sponsorship of the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup. We look forward to another successful renewal and wish all competitors the very best of luck.”