The UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian horses will take place on Saturday, May 17, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, forming part of the 150th edition of the Preakness Stakes celebrations.
Part of Preakness lineup
This marks the fourth leg of the 32nd edition of the UAE President’s Cup Series and will headline the evening schedule of the Preakness Day races at 7:43 p.m. (Maryland time). The Group 1 race covers a distance of 1 1/16 miles (1700 metres) and offers a prize purse of $200,000. It is open to Purebred Arabians aged four years and older.
The UAE President’s Cup is widely recognised as one of the leading international platforms for Arabian horse racing and continues to serve as a key part of efforts to promote and preserve the heritage of the Arabian breed.
Strong international field
This year’s race has attracted a competitive field from the U.S. and abroad. Among the confirmed entries:
RB Motherload – Trained by Jerenesto Torrez, bred by Dianne K. Waldron, owned by Rosebrook Farms LLC
AA Take A Chance – Trained by Rhonda Tuley, bred by Dianne Waldron & Garrett Ford, owned by Annette M. Lindstrom
Like Moulin Rouge – Trained and bred by Ken Danyluk
WMA Smoke Signal and WMA Big Baby – Both trained by Rhonda Tuley, bred and owned by Rita Deleon
RB Grand Slam – Trained by Jerenesto Torrez, bred by Dianne K. Waldron, owned by Rosebrook Farms LLC
TM Purncess – Trained by Rhonda Tuley, bred by L. Todd Moak
Quick Rae AA – Trained by Nicole Ruggeri, bred by Joseph or Betty Gillis, and owned by Nicole & Andre Ruggeri
RB Motherload enters the race following a second-place finish in Houston, while AA Take A Chance is known for his strong finishing speed. RB Grand Slam comes off a streak of recent wins.
Global racing milestone
His Excellency Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary General of the UAE President’s Cup Series Organizing Committee, said: “The U.S. race represents a key milestone in our annual calendar and reflects the ever-growing global reputation of the series. Being part of the 150th Preakness Stakes this year is a powerful testament to the stature of the UAE President’s Cup. This achievement would not be possible without the steadfast support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, whose visionary leadership continues to elevate Arabian horse racing and preserve its noble heritage across the world.”
Legacy of past winners
The U.S. edition of the UAE President’s Cup has seen notable champions over the years, including:
Paddys Day (2016, 2020, 2021)
Quick And Rich (2017)
Quick Sand AA (2018)
RB Texas Hold Em (2019)
Hiab Al Zaman (2022)
Diamond Gem AA (2023)
RB Malexis (2024)
The UAE President’s Cup continues to strengthen its presence internationally, contributing to the global promotion of Arabian horse racing.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
