Qatar’s new horse racing season to kick off on October 13th

Tribune News Network Doha The Racing Department of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) held a meeting with horse owners and trainers on Monday to d...

Tribune News NetworkDohaThe Racing Department of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) held a meeting with horse owners and trainers on Monday to discuss and announce the racing programme of the next season 2021/2022. QREC was represented at the meeting by Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, Racing and Technical Adviser to Chairman Sami Jassim Al Boenain, and Handicapper Marcus Weedon.The productive meeting took place at the QREC Grandstand and covered several matters, including the suggestions and comments provided by owners and trainers before both before the programme was developed and after its initial draft. Other suggestions were raised by owners and trainers during the meeting and will be considered for potential implementation later either during the coming or the following season based on the numbers and categories of horses.QREC issued two separate programmes; one for the Al Rayyan racecourse including 55 race days and the other for the Al Uqda racecourses including 15 race days, making a total of 70 race days in the 2021/2022 season. It is an unprecedented number throughout the history of QREC as it represents a quantum leap in the number of race days per season. The total number of races is 531 races with 83 races more than the last season. Naturally, the number of races could increase during the season when races are divided or with new races added according to the developments of the season. Following the meeting, owners and trainers, who were present, praised the development of the upcoming season’s programme, both in terms of quantity and quality. They expressed their aspirations for a successful season, which will serve as a basis for their accurate preparations for future seasons. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, lauded the cooperation of owners and trainers. “We have taken into consideration that the programme should include races, which suite the various horse categories”, he said.“In line with the QREC’s strategy, the programme focuses on race variety and enhancing racing standards. In fact, we started to prepare the programme as soon as the last season ended. Our concepts have been based on the numbers and categories horses as well as the requirements and suggestions of owners and trainers. We have also been keen to complete the programme as soon as possible in order to give them the opportunity to prepare for the next season and set their goals and requirements accurately. We look forward to a successful new season for all parties.” Sami Jassim Al Boenain, Racing and Technical Adviser to QREC Chairman was pleased with the discussions, which took place during the meeting. “We are pleased with this comprehensive development in the programme to meet and reflect the aspirations and requests of owners and trainers”, he said. “Their suggestions were raised through our previous meetings and after the issuance of the first draft of the programme, to which they presented a number of valuable comments, which were taken into account in the final version. “The new programme takes into account the gradual progression of weekly race meetings as the season kicks off to ensure horses reach their peak potentials in the major meetings, topped by the HH The Amir Sword Festival days. It further accommodates all horse categories as well as their various age groups and ratings and offers fair opportunities to all through the large number of races over a variety of distances ranging between 1,000 and 3,200 metres at Al Rayyan and 1,200 and 2,300 metres at Al Uqda. We wish everyone all the best in the coming season.” The 2021/2022 racing season will kick off on Wednesday, 13 October 2021 at Al Rayyan racecourse and will conclude on Thursday, 5 May 2022 at the same venue. Races at Al Uqda racecourse, on the other hand, will start on Saturday, 13 November 2021 and come to a close on Thursday, 24 February 2022.