ABU DHABI // Sixteen-year-old Saeed Al Harbi beat a field of 141 horse riders to win this year's Al Wathba Challenge Endurance Ride on Saturday.
The teenager, who was riding Rashka, scooped Dh100,000 and a Toyota Landcruiser after finishing first in the race held at the Emirates International Endurance Village.
“I’m so happy to win this race,” said Emirati Mr Al Harbi. “I will give the car to my brother Hamad, who is 20.”
Mr Al Harbi, who has been training for two years, covered the distance in four hours, 21 minutes and 10 seconds at an average speed of 27.569kph to cross the finish line 47 seconds ahead of runner-up Rashid Al Baloushi.
Mohammed Al Kindi came in third in 4 hours and 22 minutes.
A total of Dh1 million in prize money will be distributed among the top ten riders with the rest receiving Dh10,000 each, according Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director-general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
Trophies were awarded by Mr Al Nuaimi and Lara Sawaya, director of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.
“It is our aim to build the international reputation of Emirati equestrian sport and the endurance races,” said Mr Al Nuami.
“We ensure that we organise and host quality equestrian sports which include horse racing, endurance racing and show jumping.”
In total 15 endurance races will be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba this season, which ends in March.
Seventeen races are planned for the next season from November to March 2015, he said.
“The prize money is huge which is very good for all the riders and the stables,” Ms Sawaya, who also serves as the chairwoman of the Ladies’ Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities.
“We are proud to be part of this race as one of the directives of Sheikh Mansour is to bring together the racing world with the endurance racing world.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
