Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Dubai Horse Breeder & Owner Sheikh Maktoum Dies
Posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2006
Dubai’s Sheikh Maktoum, one of the world’s most prominent horse breeders and owners, died Wednesday and was immediately succeeded by his younger brother, the crown prince, a senior government official said. Sheikh Maktoum, 62, who was also vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, died while visiting Australia.
The new emir is Sheikh Mohammed, the defense minister of the UAE and a businessman and major breeder of horses, said Deputy Information Minister Ibrahim Al Abed. He added that by the constitution, the succession was automatic.
Dubai declared 40 days of official mourning. The stock exchanges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ceased trading and many shops and businesses closed. Racing was canceled at Nad al Sheba racecourse in Dubai. Dubai TV interrupted its programs to show a picture of the Sheikh smiling with the voice of a Muslim cleric reading verses of the Quran, Islam’s holy book.
Sheikh Maktoum operated four stud farms under the banner of his Gainsborough Stud Management. Based in Newmarket, England, Gainsborough also has an extensive breeding operation in central Kentucky.Gainsborough have been associated with many great horses in recent years, among them Cadeaux Genereux, Fantastic Light and Shareef Dancer. His other farms were Woodpark Stud and Ballysheehan Stud in Ireland.
Along with his brothers, Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Maktoum operated a major international racing stable under the Godolphin name. Like his brothers, Sheikh Maktoum also had a separate racing stable. He and his brothers had helped to revolutionize, pouring millions into buying and breeding superior thoroughbreds and turning the $15 million Dubai World Cup meeting into one of racing’s great festivals.
He tended to leave day-to-day government of Dubai to his younger brother, but took an active interest in the Emirates’ foreign policy. His foremost interest, however, was horse racing, and he and his younger brother worked to put Dubai on the world racing map. The annual Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) is billed as the richest horse race in the world.
In its statement, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said Sheikh Maktoum "placed his country’s interest over any other considerations. He was a model of good behavior.”
The official WAM news agency said government offices will be closed for seven days, starting Wednesday. However, the Dubai Racing Carnival which is due to start on January 19 is expected to take place as scheduled.
"Dubai Horse Breeder & Owner Sheikh Maktoum Dies" was posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2006 at 9:55 am and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Middle East Horse Racing, Owners & Breeders, UK-Great Britain Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Monday, June 2nd, 2008 3:54 pm By jerry
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