A Visit to Meydan, Dubai

Last week I knocked off number one on my bucket list, Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.  I didn't get to attend the World Cup yet but January 9th was opening night of the DWC Carnival and I booked a parade ring seat.  The DWC, run in March, is the feature event of the season and the richest horse race in the world at $27.25 million; even the winning jockey gets a solid gold whip.  My lifetime favorite horse, Cigar was the first to win the cup when it started back in 1996 and many American horses have won it since including, Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Pleasantly Perfect, Roses in May, Electrocutionist, Curlin (another of my favorites), Well Armed and last years winner, Animal Kingdom (also on my favorites list).  That's 8 out of 18.
Everything is bigger, better, cleaner and safer in Dubai whether that sits well with you or not it just is.  The stunning architecture of the enormous grandstand bowls you over from the highway.  It is the biggest racetrack grandstand I have ever been in and has the recurring theme of a horse's head throughout.

 

Meydan is not very far from the city with a perfect view of the Dubai skyline that up close is an architectural wonderland.  Attached to the grandstand is my kind of hotel, the five-star Meydan, overlooking the track and an outside lounge track side.  It was from here I met a group for breakfast the Tuesday prior and did The Backstage Tour.  I love backstretch tours having done both Saratoga and Oklahoma (at Saratoga) last summer.  

The Meydan Hotel

On this one though we were allowed right into the barn of leading trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi, who could not have been nicer and gave us his personal attention.  He introduced some of his gorgeous chargers and showed us around the beautiful stable complex.  Then gave each of us a racing plate (shoe) to take home from his own farrier's shop.  A girl can never have too many shoes especially the lucky kind.  Musabah Al Muhairi had won four races the previous Thursday giving him the lead in the Champion Trainer title.  I think if I was young again and starting over I would go to Dubai instead of America.  Although it hasn't been all bad I never did learn about equine sports medicine and become a trainer which was my purpose of moving to the States.  Now that racing is not going forward here I would recommend Dubai as the place to be in the horse industry. 

Trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi

Grooms wait on their charges to come back from track work.

An Arabian racer bonding with staff.

A name plate outside a stall door

In the reflection is our guide Mark who also judged the best turned out horses on race night. 

Other barns on the backstretch

An Arabian Colt

Although thoroughbreds are my thing, I was really interested in seeing the Arabian racehorses Al Mahairi had as we don't have many of them here. Our racing seems to be getting sadder and sadder with more tracks that run Arabian races closing all the time.  In the United Arab Emirates there is no gambling. It really takes the pressure off and allows you to enjoy your evening. I got to meet people and I don't usually if I'm betting. To know they were there because they liked horse racing and not punting was uplifting. 

Andrew, (right) an attorney specialising
in equine law and  guest Antony Nobilo,
visiting from London

I was by myself but it didn't seem to matter. The frumpy shift I'd bought because I was concerned about the dress code was unnecessary, and no one mined me taking up space and only drinking tea.  You could have champagne it you wanted.  I drove to the track, parking was undercover and plentiful.  The only thing I noticed was the women stood on a different line to the men to get in, it was shorter too.  We were all handed cards for a pick six competition that had to be handed in before the first race as there were only seven.  I was so wrapped up in taking pictures of the sterling steeds in the parade ring at night that I forgot to shoot the fabulous lounge inside but I'd seen it all on the homestretch side of the tour during the day.

The Restaurant in the Jockeys' Room

The Parade Ring and Winner's Circle

A table beside the parade ring is best if you pick your horses on physically appearances as I do.  I didn't have to walk back and forth to the paddock like I do here and there was no trotting to the window so wearing  six inch spikes wasn't a problem.  All the action took place right in front of me, riders mount in the ring, but I was way back from the track for the finish.  A big screen took care of that and anyway, I don't always watch the race at home, seeing them before is important.

The Screens

Naseem, ridden by Harry Bently who won round one of the Group 1 Al Maktoum
Challenge for Purebred Arabians.  

Transparent, whose last form read Prx, my favorite track to play on Mon./Tue .
He ran 4th in  the Saint Imier won by Busker (USA).

You needn't feel threatened leaving the track at night alone in Dubai, there is no crime.  I could ask anybody anytime, anywhere for directions or help and they were very gracious.  It's a nice feeling for a woman not to be looking over her shoulder watching her back all the time.  Belmont and Aqueduct can attract a shady clientele most of the time, many under the influence of drugs, alcohol and mean from losing.  Even in Saratoga I don't go out after the Travers because town is too crazy and Louisville after the Kentucky Derby is the same; funny how our tracks are empty the rest of the year.

The Meydan Hotel desk staff found me a great stable to go for my Arabian desert ride, the totally amazing Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club which I'll go into more on another post. Our tour guide Mark Monkhouse, originally from Newmarket, England (another track ticked off my bucket list) sent me to HBA Horse Equipment store so I could buy jodhpurs.  I usually go riding in jeans and sometimes chaps.  I'm glad I invested in the jodhpurs because the DPEC was very upscale.  I also discovered another fascinating world I'll  go into later, The Falcon Heritage Club, where the tack store was located just down the road from Meydan.
I can't stop thinking about Dubai, there is so much to share about the trip and I can't say enough about how wonderful people were to me; an excitable traveler I can wear folks out.            
     

Ahtoug, winner on the second race, for thoroughbreds.

To do the Backstage tour at Meydan contact: leisure@meydanhotels.com or stabletours@meydanhotels.com  You can call +971 4 3813405