Dec. 18, Manama (BNA): The Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) opened the National Day Festival at its racecourse in Al Raffa, Sakhir, in front of His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Vice President of the General Sports Authority, and Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Noaimi, Minister of Information.
National Day Festival continues Friday with tenth race
The ninth and tenth races of the current season will take place during the festival on Thursday and Friday, December 18–19, which also happens to be the 26th anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s accession to the throne and the Kingdom of Bahrain’s National Day.
Numerous Their Highnesses and Excellencies, notable individuals, officials of sponsoring organizations, and a sizable public audience attended the festival’s opening day.
The race cup winners were crowned, and Daniel and Claire Kubler, the winning trainers, received the National Day Cup from the Minister of Information.
Maitham Hashim Al Mishqab, the winning owner, received the fourth race trophy from His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa; His Highness Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa received the fifth and eighth race trophies; and Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim, the winning owner, received the seventh race trophy.
The winning owner, Hadi Al Afoo, received the second race trophy from Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, Executive Director of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, while Poppy Green received the third race trophy from Khalid Bukhari, Managing Director of Dallah Promotions.
The weather contributed to the overall ambiance of the national event on the opening day of the festival, which featured accompanying artistic and entertainment events.
The festival carries on Friday, December 19, with the tenth race set to begin at 4:00 pm. The competition will take place for the Cups of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, alongside the cups of His Highness’s sons: His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The fifth edition of the Bahrain Turf Series will also begin with the tenth event.
Competitions for the General Sports Authority Cup, the Bahrain Olympic Committee Cup, the Ministry of Information-sponsored National Day Cup, and the Dallah Cup took place during the ninth race.
