| The first of 10 meetings of the Dubai Cup already | | | | to compete at this year's Carnival and 19 of |
| kicked off this week with the opening rounds of | | | | those are Group 1 winners. International riding |
| the 2008 Dubai International Racing Carnival | | | | stars Frankie Dettori, Mick Kinane, John Murtagh, |
| starting last Thursday with a record number of | | | | Ryan Moore, Ted Durcan and Kevin Shea will be |
| top rated horses set to compete in the world's | | | | on the scene. |
| most international and richest festival in racing. | | | | It is a fact that the Dubai Cup has become the |
| The race which is held annually at the Nad Al | | | | favorite race for horse trainers and owners but |
| Sheba Race course, the 2,000m track is the | | | | also the most important event on the Emirate's |
| witness of the Dubai Cup, the biggest day of | | | | social calendar. Off the track; the Arabians offer |
| racing in the global calendar with more than US$6 | | | | the Carnival Style Stakes and the Super |
| million at stake and the best thoroughbreds in the | | | | Thursday Style Stakes staged on February 28th |
| world. The first meeting of the carnival will be the | | | | and March 6th where the Best Dressed Lady |
| Super Thursday fixture on March 6th, the last | | | | competition is the feature prize during both nights. |
| step before the Dubai World Cup staged on | | | | There are also prizes on the Best Dressed Couple |
| March 29th which is sponsored by HH Sh. Hamdan | | | | and Best Hat winners. |
| bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, | | | | An International Horse Fair staged on March 20th |
| and UAE Minister of Finance & Industry. | | | | will be one more of the events to enhance the |
| United Arab Emirates has organized the race since | | | | International Championship and to attract a big |
| 1996; the figures for 2008 are clearly superior to | | | | amount of consumers from around the world. |
| previous years which have proved to be very | | | | Once again, and thanks to its successful |
| successful. Actually, from the 263 horses that | | | | trajectory the Championship will be broadcasted |
| were accepted, there are 23 individual horses that | | | | live on television, with a great percentage of US |
| were successful at Group 1 level in 2007, | | | | viewers which truly enjoy the majesty of all type |
| compared to the 18 of the previous year. | | | | of thoroughbreds. |
| Forty-three group stakes winners are expected | | | | |