Dubai Racing, UAE
Airing Date: Mar 22nd, 2004
Welcome to horse-mad Dubai - home to Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, and the Godolphin Stables, arguably the most famous and powerful training stables in the world. Horse racing here is less a sport and more a religion...and the centre of it all is the Nad Al Sheba racecourse.
Located just 10 minutes from town, the Nad Al Sheda racecourse is a magnet for anyone interested in the world of horse racing. It's surrounded by very prestigious and famous stables. In the morning you can join the Rising with the Stars tour, where you can go through the stables and meet the real stars of Dubai racing, the thoroughbreds.
The tour also visits the equestrian training grounds, farriers' facilities and feed rooms before moving on to Nad Al Sheba Club for a delicious breakfast. Later, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the jockeys' facilities, stewards' area and the exclusive hospitality suites. After learning about what goes on behind the scenes in Dubai racing, the three and a half hour tour ends with a visit to the Godolphin Gallery, which is full of trophies including four Dubai cups - but no Melbourne Cup yet!
While entry to Nad Al Sheba racecourse is free, if you want the royal treatment you can take the Night at the Races tour. This tour is a unique way to experience the glitzy world of horse racing in Dubai.
After being picked up from your hotel, you'll dine in the famous Dubai Racing Club before being shown to seats in the Millennium Grandstand for a fun night of racing. Depending on the night you could see up to eight or nine races.
Something that may seem a bit odd to Australians is the fact that gambling is absolutely illegal in Dubai, so there are no bookies at the races - yet the races are still packed for the entire season! However, everyone who attends gets a race card called 'pick 6' (you'll get one with the tour) where you write your winner predictions for the night. At the end of the night a computer determines the most accurate card, and the owner wins a cash prize.
The facts:
Emirates Airline flies to Dubai every day. Prices start from $1900 from Brisbane and Melbourne, $2050 from Sydney and $1780 from Perth. Dubai's racing season runs from November to April so be sure to travel there at the right time.
Emirates
Tel: 1300 303 777
A Night at the Races tour with Arabian Adventures costs about $70 including pick up from your hotel, a Millennium Grandstand seat and dinner. The Rising with the Stars tour costs around $60 including breakfast.
Arabian Adventures
Tel: 0011 971 43 43 9966
Prices correct at 22/03/04
