Post-Races 2008

The Dubai World Cup this year was quite different to past experiences. Didn't have as much fun this year as the last couple. Got there late because of traffic. When we asked some people on duty at the blocked road entrances to the racecourse vicinity why we were not allowed to go right in, we were met with shoulder shrugs and a couple of incomprehensible mumbles. Great. We had friends accompanying us from abroad, and, trying to promote Dubai, when presented with the question "So...(would you leave your $$$ job overseas)...when are you moving to Dubai?" I wished I had some bodyguards to protect my little ears from the verbal backlash I had to endure!

Being forced to walk 20 mins to the main entrance when you've spent thousands to come to Dubai especially for the races and don't happen to have a Burj Al Arab chauffeur driven Rolls to take you there is out of order. My designer-label clad friends from overseas were not too happy. Thousands of people at the only 2 gates to the racecourse even at 7pm.

And, this year, taxis were not officially available upon exit. We had 'luxury coaches' to take us out of the desert and into the city, and those standing in the aisles had nothing to lean on, unlike what the upcoming Dubai Metro will offer...those swinging things on the ceiling that you can hold onto while involuntarily being swayed around.

I think the highlight of the night was not that America's top-rated horse won, but the fact that the football results were announced towards the end of the night. I heard "Scunthorpe". Quite a different review to my last Post-Races post.

It was a really fun night and I would recommend it for next year. Upon official approval, camping outside the night before might be a good alternative: after all, it's the desert.

At the gallop

Sheikh Mohammed is making waves Down Under after spending half a billion dollars on Australia's biggest horse breeding stud:

AUSTRALIAN horseracing's most lavish supporter, Bob Ingham, has sold the vast Woodlands Stud to the ruler of Dubai for more than $460 million.

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the world's biggest owner of thoroughbreds, and the deal means he will dominate the breeding and racing of thoroughbreds in Australia through his Darley Stud.

Darley will take Woodlands' 1000 horses, two studs, a pre-training farm and racing stables in Sydney and Melbourne.

The deal is subject to approval by the Australian government which will take another month.