24 hours prior to kick-off
Issa bin Mohammd Al-Mohannadi:
Unprecedented international participation in HH The Amir Sword
Festival
One of the most important horse race meetings worldwide
QREC’s facilities highly commended by the Japanese
Applying highest standards in organisation, integrity, quarantine and track condition
Festival’s new identity consolidates Qatar’s legacy
We value the role of sponsors and success partners
Al Sabiq Championship is the origin of racing
Committed to developing and expanding jockey base
Doha – 14 February 2024
We are only 24 hours away from the start of the HH The Amir Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and
Equestrian Club (QREC). All final arrangements have been completed to ensure reaching the highest
success and continuing the continuous development of the Festival, especially with the launch of the
new identity for the prestigious event. The three-day Festival will be the focus of attention with the
participation of many international horses as Qatar’s premier racing event has become on par with
the world’s top horse racing meetings.
The QREC management seeks to produce a special renewal of the Festival in line with Qatar’s leading
standing in the international racing community.
Just before the kick off of the Festival, HE Issa bin Mohammed Al-Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, said:
“We look forward to the HH The Amir Sword Festival as the pinnacle of the QREC racing calendar,
placing Qatar in the spotlight on the global sports scene. As the HH The Amir Sword Festival begins,
the QREC management looks forward to a world-class organisation on par with the world's most
prestigious racing meetings staged at the top tracks worldwide. In fact, we apply standards, which
give us confidence in the success of the Festival, especially with many top-quality international
runners arriving for the Festival’s international races. For the first time, this renewal sees three
horses from Japan alongside challengers from other countries, some of whom have already
contested in Doha and even won in previous years. Such intensive international presence is a
demonstration that the Festival has become a source of attraction for international horse owners
and trainers and reflects the high confidence in Qatar’s horse racing and its standard in terms of
organisation and quality. Qatari horse owners add further heft to the global event, being able and
well-prepared to win the tough challenges throughout the races of the three-day Festival.”
Source of attraction for international runners
Regarding the rise in the number of international runners, Al-Mohannadi said: “It is a result of the
continuous development of the Festival and the application of the highest technical standards in
organisation, quarantine and various facilities in addition to racing integrity and the perfect condition
of the Al Rayyan Racecourse. These factors attract international horse connections to come to Qatar
for the HH The Amir Sword Festival. Moreover, the high quality of the runners reflects the high racing
standard and the desire to win the Festival’s titles. Two weeks ago, a delegation from the Japanese
animal resources authorities visited Qatar to see the facilities and learn about the way work is done
at QREC and how to horse welfare is maintained and the appropriate environment and facilities are
made available. The delegation highly commended what they saw and that is why we see three
Japanese horses in the edition, which happens for the first time in the Festival’s history. We
should also keep in mind that the horses coming from various counties Japan, UK, France,
Ireland and Hong Kong are here because of the standing of the HH The Amir Sword Festival,
which has become one of the most important horse racing meetings in the world.”
New identity reflects heritage
“This year, QREC has been keen to launch the new identity of the Festival,” Al-Mohannadi added, “It
has been inspired by the Qatari heritage through “al ghutra” (male headwear), which reflects and
consolidates the heritage and legacy of the State of Qatar, which we are proud of. In addition, the
new identity highlights a symbolic meaning through its association with the “Al Sabiq” traditional
championship held during major race meetings at QREC. We view the Al Sabiq Championship as the
origin of horse racing in Qatar, during which riders wear “al ghutra,” and the moment a rider raises
his ghutra implies that he is fully prepared to start. Al Sabiq Championship is, in fact, considered a
starting point for some talented riders, who then turn to become professional flat racing jockeys. A
number of Al Sabiq riders have already been selected and they are now regular jockeys in the flat
races at QREC. It has been a very valuable benefit for QREC as part of the QREC board of directors’
efforts to expand the base of Qatari jockeys and to develop and prepare them to ride at the world’s
top racecourses.”
Strategic relations with sponsors
HE Issa bin Mohammed Al-Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, lauded the role of the sponsors. He said:
“While aspiring to the highest level of success in the Festival every year, we value the role of
sponsors and partners given our strategic relationships based on cooperation for the continuous
development of the Festival and maintaining its high international prestige. In fact, the sponsors and
success partners continue their valuable role and contribute to achieving what we aspire to and
QREC, in turn, fulfils its commitments towards them. The strategic relations between us is long-
standing serves to maintain long-term cooperation.”
“The Festival may see a breakthrough success with Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Al Ghadeer
bidding to win the HH The Amir Sword race (Gr1 PA) and, consequently, the Triple Crown,
having already won the first two stages in 2023, the Gr1 PA Qatar International Stakes at
Goodwood the Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup at ParisLongchamp. In addition, all other
races of the Festival promise to be highly enthralling and thrilling, with horses in top form
and owners, trainers and jockeys keen to be part of the trophy presentation ceremony and
write their names in the Festival’s history books”, concluded Al-Mohannadi.
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