Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Gallops Ahead

Doha (QNA) - The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (REC) has transformed in five years from being a minor to a major stage to showcase the skills of some of the world's finest horses and jockeys who have combined to set 11 track records this season.
Top-class horses like Beethoven, Joshua Tree, Amico Mio, Lancelot and Miss Starlight have taken Thoroughbred racing to a new level in Qatar, the Gulf Times daily said Thursday in a feature report on Qatar's initiatives in horse racing.
Not far away from the spotlights are international jockeys of the calibre of Oliver Peslier, Seb Sanders and Alan Munro continue to excel in their trade here.
As a major sporting destination Qatar has made its mark by winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Horse racing has also found its pride of place in the country s sporting annals and it will not be long before it becomes a force that competes with the best.
Comparing the statistics five years ago and now reveals the rapid progress made by the REC. It is not just the numbers; the results also are on the upswing.
When the 2005-06 season began at the REC s New Rayyan track, there were 300 horses (80 Pure Arabians, 124 local bred Pure Arabians, 51 Thoroughbreds and 45 local Thoroughbreds). The number has increased to 700 today.
The numbers have soared as well in terms of the participation of owners and trainers. The number of owners has increased from 92 to 413 while 184 trainers are in competition today compared to 37 in 2005.
Qatar can boast being home to the best Pure Arabian horses in the world. To underline this achievement is the performance of Umm Qarn Farms, one of the top stud farms in the country, which produced General, the Arabian World Cup champion two years in a row.
General set Longchamp racecourse in Paris alight with his victories and the equine world was watching