A day at the races: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the Kentucky Derby

Sheikh Mohammed paid tribute to a lifelong love for all things equestrian in 'For the Love of Horses'

Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum (L) of Dubai talks with trainer Bob Baffert, winner of the last two Kentucky Derby's 29 April 1999 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. The 125th running of the Kentucky Derby will be held on 01 May 1999.  (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)    AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP)
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The UAE's love of horses is no secret, in particular that of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

He is, after all, the owner of the world's largest thoroughbred horseracing and breeding team, Godolphin. In March, the ruler paid homage to his lifelong adoration of all things equestrian in a book of poems called For the Love of Horses. In his memoir, My Story: 50 Stories in 50 Years, Sheikh Mohammed wrote about the time he helped nurse an injured horse back to health, sometimes sleeping in the stable overnight. "My horse taught me about loyalty," he wrote.

Here, Sheikh Mohammed is chatting with Bob Baffert, the only living trainer to have won thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown twice. The image was taken in 1999, before the Kentucky Derby: this year's event takes place on Saturday, May 4.

Baffert trained 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh and 2018 winner Justify, while his horses also won five Kentucky Derbies.