Horse racing is quite popular in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Horse riding has been a passion among people here from ancient times; the only thing was that there was no organized racing event conducted here earlier. The early unofficial competitions were organized at the Al Tallah camel racetracks in Ajman back in 1975. There were no starting gates back then; all the horses were lined up at the start point and flagged off. However, all the basic rules of horse racing were followed even then. The patron of horse racing back then was the ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi. However, it was another person who put the UAE on the international horse racing map: Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid. His first shot at introducing racing to UAE was in the form of three races at a camel racetrack in Dubai in 1982. Almost 10 years since, the Emirates Racing Authority was set up and all races were conducted under its authority, and followed the Emirates Racing Rules. Racing has grown by leaps and bounds since then, with the passion showing as more and more race tracks blossomed across the different emirates. That passion has today culminated in the UAE hosting the race with the biggest prize purse in the world, the Dubai World Cup. However, even today there is no pari-mutuel betting in the UAE as gambling is illegal in this country. More about Horse Racing in the UAEToday, the flagship racecourse in the UAE is the Meydan racecourse, considered the largest in the world. On this track, floodlit races are organized on all weather and turf tracks. Daytime racing can be seen at Jebel Ali, which has a dirt track. Races are also organized at Sharjah as well as at Abu Dhabi, with the latter hosting them on a turf track under floodlights. Over time, the number of races organized in the UAE has grown steadily, and today there are more than 14 such races organized here. Some of these are listed here: - Al Quoz Sprint
- Asian Mile Challenge
- Dubai City of Gold
- Dubai Duty Free Stakes
- Dubai Golden Shaheen
- Dubai Kahalya Classic
- Dubai Sheema Classic
- Dubai World Cup
- Dubai World Cup Night
- Godolphin Mile
- Jebel Hatta
- UAE 1000 Guineas
- UAE Derby
- UAE Oaks
All races in the UAE are conducted under the aegis of the ERA, a racing body with global recognition. Of course, it is only natural that races in the UAE provide an opportunity for promotion of the Purebred Arabian horses. Races where this breed can be seen regularly include the Arabian Triple Crown series, the Dubai Kahalya Classic, the Maktoum Challenge races, and HH The President of the UAE Cup. The highlight of horse racing in the UAE is, of course, the Dubai World Cup. Online Casinos and Other Gambling In the UAEEmirates Racing - Provides track race times, results and other related information
Website Address: http://www.emiratesracing.com/ Come Racing - Guide to horse racing in the UAE.
Website Address: http://www.comeracinguae.com/ Horse Racing in the UAE – The Dubai World CupWhen racing started blossoming in the UAE, it was only natural for Dubai to be in the thick of the action. The Dubai Racing Club was set up in 1992 under the chairmanship of Col. Ali Khamis Al Jafleh. The official opening was held in march 1992 at the Nad Al Sheba racecourse, with legends like Lester Piggott and Willie Carson making an appearance. In March 1993 the first edition of the Dubai International Jockeys’ Challenge (DIJC) was held, made way in 1996 for the Dubai World Cup. The Dubai World Cup’s inaugural edition was won, fittingly, by a thoroughbred that features in the United States Hall of Fame: Cigar. Since 2010, when the race shifted to the Meydan Racecourse of Dubai, the largest track in the world, the prize money has also shot up to a fabulous $10 million, making this the richest horse race in the whole world. | 
