Year: 2023

Thakeera Al Shahania gains ticket to UAE President Cup

Suzanne Ashton
Thakeera Al Shahania (QA) and Joanna Mason during Arabian race 2023

Thakeera Al Shahania and former three-time ARO leading lady jockey, Joanna Mason impressed with a five and a half-length UK debut win in the Emirates Breeders Conditions Stakes at Doncaster. Trainer Phil Collington confirmed afterwards that she will head to the £80,0000 Group 1PA UAE President Cup (UK Arabian Derby) back at the same track on August 19. Running a solid race in defeat were the Peter Hammersley trained, three-time PA Group placed Abiyah Athbah, with her stablemate, another black-type performer, Zayin Angkor Centurion, a further length and three quarters…

Read More

Top gambling losses

Stuart Burns
gambling losses image of a man with his head in hands

No one likes to take a gambling loss. Most gamblers will take the attitude of “Win some, lose some”. For obvious reasons people don’t like to broadcast losses. Occasionally the amounts involved can be so big that they make the wrong type of racing history. This article examines a few top losses and the story behind them. There are, without a doubt, bigger losses, but we will never get to hear about them. As ever, when the fun stops, stop. For entertainment purposes, let’s count them down: Terrance Watanabe –…

Read More

Possible Derby entries head to Doncaster for Emirates Breeders Conditions Stakes

Suzanne Ashton
arabian racing news and articles. Lujain and Phil Collington on Newmarket's Summer Gallop © Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) have announced that two of the eight runners declared for the Emirates Breeders Conditions Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday could reappear at the track on August 19 for the £80,000 Group 1PA UAE President Cup (UK Arabian Derby). Though two furlongs shy of the Derby distance, it will be Lujain and Thakeera Al Shahania’s first opportunity to visit the Town Moor Course, with their trainer Phil Collington having stated that a good run on Saturday, could see the pair line up for the UK’s premier race…

Read More

What is point to point racing

Stuart Burns
Kimblewick Races Point-to-point in action. Image credit Hattie Austin

Point-to-point racing is a form of amateur horse racing that takes place on a cross-country course. The course usually consists of a farm land track. An example of point-to-point racing is the popular Kimblewick point-to-point. A course is usually between two and four miles in distance. Races include a number of obstacles (fences, streams and other obstacles) to provide a competitive racing challenge. The official season start and end dates are provided by the BHA. The seasons usually start in November and run through to June. Point-to-point racing defined Point-to-point…

Read More

What is Steeple Chase racing?

Stuart Burns
a Steeple Chase in action Image by Graham Kemp from Pixabay

Steeple Chase and point-to-point racing are quite similar in nature. They also differ in several important ways including the fact that Steeple Chase racing is classed as professional racing. Point-to-point racing is amateur in nature. Sometimes Steeple Chase can be conflated with other racing types such as jump racing but in its purest form in UK racing Steeple Chase is a category of its own, overseen by the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA). Differentiating the race There is a human Steeple Chase which is classed as an Olympic discipline. Here…

Read More

Galopin Des Champs Crowned Leading Horse in Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications

Suzanne Ashton
Galopin Des Champs tops Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications for 2022/23

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs has been crowned the leading Jumps horse of the 2022/23 season in the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications with a rating of 179. Constitution Hill and Energumene share the runners-up spot on a mark of 175, with the latter becoming the highest-rated British-trained hurdler since Classifications were first published in 1999/2000. Held annually, the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification identifies the best Steeplechaser and Hurdlers that were trained in either Britain or Irland between the 2022/2023 season. The classification also includes those horses based in France…

Read More

Success for Trainer James Owen at ARO season opener

Suzanne Ashton
Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett win the Emirates Breeders (0-60) Handicap at Bath © Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

The opening race of the 2023 Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) season got off to a great start at Bath on Friday 26th May for James Owen with amateur Teagan Padgett winning on her debut ride in the sport on Upstart Crow in the Emirates Breeders (0-60) Handicap. The six-year-old gelding was also making his debut for a new owner, Mrs Linda Reeves and for a new trainer, Owen. The pair readily pulled clear of another Owen runner in Heritage Valentino, with Zikada Zayin in third in the ten-furlong contest. Padgett,…

Read More

Arabian Racing Organisation Open the 2023 Season

Suzanne Ashton
Arabian racing bath. Image credit Debbie Burt

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) looks forward to their opening race of the 2023 season, the Emirates Breeders (0-60) Handicap held over a mile and a quarter, to be run at Bath on Friday May 26 at 6.05pm. Attracting ten runners, this grassroots race features a broad mix of seasoned handicappers and young potential improvers, a theme also reflected by the jockey bookings which includes both amateur and professional riders, an opportunity unique to Arabian racing on the Flat in the UK. They are headed by James Owen’s four-year-old homebred…

Read More

What is Arabian Racing?

Suzanne Ashton
What is Arabian racing? Image of horses racing on a sand track. Image by Mary Pahlke from Pixabay

Arabian racing refers to a type of horse racing that specifically involves purebred Arabian horses. Arabian horses are a breed known for their beauty, endurance, and speed. They originated in the Arabian Peninsula and have been prized by various cultures for centuries. Arabian racing is a popular equestrian sport that takes place in different parts of the world, including the Middle East, Europe, and North America. The races typically involve flat racing, where horses compete on a straight or oval track to determine the fastest runner. However, there are also…

Read More

Mental Health Awareness Week Receives Support from Racing Welfare

Suzanne Ashton
Racing Welfare Logo

Mental Health Awareness Week: Monday 15 – Sunday 21 May 2023 The racing industry is being encouraged to take action for mental health this week, as Mental Health Awareness Week launches nationwide today. The campaign is run by the Mental Health Foundation, and the theme for this year is ‘Anxiety’. Racing’s human welfare charity, Racing Welfare, will be leading racing’s response to this important awareness campaign, aiming to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of anxiety, normalising conversations and signposting to support services. The charity is calling for people…

Read More