Mohammed Al Ahmed says the new initiative aims to promote horse racing between the various racecourses of the UAE.

The Jebel Ali Mile Prep is the highlight of Sunday’s first UAE fixture of 2023, at Jebel Ali over 1600m, but this will also mark a new chapter with the launch of the Emirates Sprint Racing Series.

Under the directives of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the patron of Jebel Ali Racecourse, the UAE Sprint Racing Series has been launched, starting this season.

The series enjoys the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed, and as a result, the distance of Sunday's Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup has subsequently been changed from 1700m to a sprint trip of 1200m.

It will be the first round of the series. It is significant that the Sharjah racetrack annually organizes the Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, confirming the close relationship between Jebel Ali and Sharjah.

The winner of the first round of the series at Sharjah will be eligible to participate in the Jebel Ali Sprint, and the winner of the two races will receive Dhs250,000 as a bonus, in addition to the prizes previously allocated for the Jebel Ali Sprint, Dhs500,000, with the winner receiving an amount of Dhs300,000, while the prize for the first round of His Highness’s Cup at Sharjah is Dhs200,000, with the winner receiving Dhs120,000.

This initiative comes under the generous patronage of Sheikh Ahmed and aims to support owners, trainers, and jockeys, as well as linking racecourses and promoting horse racing in the country.

The series also aims to expand the speed championship scene in the coming seasons to include the Meydan, Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain racecourses, to consolidate and linkage with Jebel Ali.

Mohammed Al Ahmed, General Manager of the Jebel Ali Racecourse, confirmed that the Emirates Sprint Series is a cooperation initiative between the UAE’s racecourses, aiming to promote horse racing between the various racecourses.

He thanked and appreciated Sheikh Ahmed for the initiative, which will create a great movement and motivate everyone to participate in it and prepare for it early.

Sultan Al Yahyai, Director General of the Sharjah Equestrian and Horse Racing Club, praised the directives of Sheikh Ahmed to establish and organize the Emirates Sprint Racing Series.

He also said that the Sharjah and Jebel Ali racecourses complement each other to promote horse racing in the UAE and serve the owners, trainers, jockeys, and the masses.

He was keen to express thanks and praise to Sheikh Ahmed and said that this championship further promotes his unlimited interest in the world of horse racing, and he hoped that the series would achieve the desired successes.

Yasir Mabrouk, Technical Director of the Emirates Racing Authority, confirmed that the initiative of Sheikh Ahmed in organizing a series of sprint races for the cup will inevitably find strong technical support and support from all sectors of horse racing in the UAE.

"Sheikh Ahmed is known among equestrian circles for his distinguished and creative initiatives and his sponsorship of races at various racecourses.

Mabrouk continued, saying: "There is no doubt that the series of sprint races for the cup will include a group of the most distinguished sprint horses in the UAE.