The top global honors in Arabian Horse Racing presented at the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival Darley Awards and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards
Houston, Texas/ USA - March 11, 2013 ~ The Board of Stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup announces the results of the 26th annual Darley Awards, held March 10th, 2013 at the JW Marriott in Houston, Texas. Dignitaries and guests from the USA and around the world including Arabian race enthusiasts from Canada, Belgium, Egypt, England, France, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Qatar, Turkey, and UAE were present to enjoy and witness this prestigious event.
Among the highlights of the evening, VALIANT BOY SBFAR, a 4 year old stallion bred by Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and owned by Guy Neivens,was crowned the 2012 Darley Champion Horse of the Year, while Sam Vasquez of Houston, Texas took home the high honor of 2012 Darley Champion Owner for the second consecutive year, and Bill Waldron received the esteemed 2012 Darley Champion Breeder title.
Enhancing the excitement of the Darley event evening were the 2nd annual HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards, named in honor of Her Highness’s generous sponsorship of women’s programs in the UAE and globally,awarded to the five most distinguished women and one outstanding mare in the international Arabian racing community. This year’s highlight was the Lifetime Achievement award,honoringSusanna Santesson of Germany for her significant contribution to Arabian racing. Voted on by an international panel of 11 judges, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards honorees follow:
HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Darley Award Winners of 2012
| Name/Country | Award |
|---|---|
| Marie Ange Bourdette, France | Best Breeder |
| Karin Van Der Bos, The Netherlands | Best Owner |
| Diana Dorenburg, The Netherlands | Best Trainer |
| Jadey Pietrawiscz, The Netherlands | Best Jockey |
| Mkeefa, Qatar | Best Mare |
| Susanna Santesson, Germany | Best Lifetime Achievement |
The elegant black tie ceremony and gala banquet was televised via live streaming with well-known UK race commentator, Derek Thompson, serving as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Following the dinner, the 20th Darley Stallion Auction was held, offering breedings to eight noted Arabian stallions with proceeds benefiting ARC future programs, concluded the evening’s festivities. Find online video coverage of the Darley event here: http://arabianhorseglobal.com/vod-9/
Founded in 1983 by Dr. Sam Harrison, the Arabian Racing Cup (ARC)'s Darley Awards ceremony has become the showcase of U.S. Arabian racing. In 2012, the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and ARC joined together to promote this prestigious event. Supported by an extensive list of sponsors, the Darley Awards is under the direction of Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Festival, and organized by Arabian Racing Cup, the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in association with International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities, Emirates RacingAuthority, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, and supported by General Authority of Youth & Sports Welfare. Emirates Airlines is the official carrier.
