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