DELEGATES from around 40 countries attended a gala dinner hosted by Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Doha on Tuesday evening to mark the HH the Emir 23rd International Equestrian Sword Festival, writes Howard Wright. 

The event also included the draw for starting positions in the Festival’s two most prestigious races, the HH the Emir’s Sword, for Purebred Arabians, worth three million riyals, sponsored by Total E&P Qatar and the HH the Emir’s Trophy, for thoroughbreds, with a prize fund of two million riyals, sponsored by Longines. The draw, for the two top events to be staged on Thursday, 27 February, was conducted with the assistance of Wimbledon ladies tennis champion Marion Bartoli.

Sami Jassim Al Boenain, QREC General Manager welcomed guests and paid tribute to HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, and HH the Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, for the tremendous support they have given the sport.

Al Boenain added: “This has allowed the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club to continue to flourish under the direction of HE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faleh Al Thani”.

“Racing in Qatar is developing very quickly and this year the quality of the horses contesting the major races at the Festival has increased to the highest level so far”, he said.

“We began last Thursday with a spectacular opening ceremony and the International Horse Shows and Championships that have followed have also been of a very high standard … We are pleased that so many people from so many different countries have been able to join us and I hope you will enjoy the remainder of the racing”, he added.

“I would urge you all to stay in Qatar for a few extra days if you can, so that you can see more of the things that our wonderful country has to offer”, concluded Al Beoanin.

Master of ceremonies Derek Thompson opened the event by introducing several international guests to the audience, including Frankie Dettori, the star jockey who has signed to ride for Al Shaqab Racing, John Warren, racing advisor to Her Majesty the Queen, leading trainers Richard Hannon and John Gosden, and the Hon Harry Herbert, racing advisor to HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The audience was treated to an unexpected thrill halfway through the evening when equestrian expert Mario Luraschi took to the stage on his show horse.

Luraschi, who has trained horses for 200 films, including three James Bond movies, negotiated the ballroom between tables and ended his brilliant performance by calling up top French jockey Olivier Peslier to give an impromptu dressage display.

As well as guests in Qatar for attending the horse races, the audience included delegates who attended the 31st annual general assembly of the European Conference of Arab Horse Organisations (ECAHO) on Saturday, February 22, andmembers of the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), who held meetings in conjunction with the Festival.