The Racing and Equestrian Club (REC) was established in 1975. HE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faleh Al Thani is Chairman of the REC Board of Directors. Mr. Sami Jassim Al Boenain is the General Manager of REC and Secretary General of REC Board of Directors. Located in New Rayyan, Doha, it has the mission of developing thoroughbred and pure bred Arabian horse racing events, organising Arabian horse shows and encouraging horse owners to own the best horses and to develop horse breeding.
Thanks to state-of-the-art facilities, REC is one of the most enviable horse training centres in the world. Racing events take place every Thursday from October to May with over 40 race meetings held annually since 1975.
Under the kind patronage of His Highness the Emir and His Highness the Heir Apparent, more and more attention is increasingly paid to the equestrian sport. The number of equestrian related facilities and arenas has been on the increase and such facilities match their international counterparts.
Since 2008, REC has become the official sponsor of the weekend of Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which is held in Longchamp, Paris during the first weekend of October. REC will be the official sponsor of this prestigious racing event till 2022.
One of the richest races on turf in the world, Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe attracts over 1 billion television audience every year besides more than 70,000 spectators at the Longchamp.
There is a sand track and a turf. There are also show arenas, where horse shows and national championships are held as well as grandstands for spectators. The REC’s stables have been equipped with all that is necessary for horse care. The REC has appointed professional vets for horse veterinary care.
Affiliation of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club to international organisations
International Federation of Arabian Horseracing Authorities (IFAHR) in 1992 – This Federation is concerned with supervising race meetings held by the Member Countries which amount to 68 countries round the world. It timely provides the REC with the latest methods and techniques of sponsoring and holding race meetings. Further it supervises and issues racing rules and regulations and supervises horse health care.
The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club has issued the Racing Rules. The State of Qatar is, thus, the first Arab country to issue racing rules. The Higher Racing Rules Committee is chaired by H H Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar.
World Arabian Horse Organisation (WAHO) in 1990 – This organisation supervises the P/A horses in Member Countries. It approves P/A Studbooks developed by Member Countries. It issues pedigree certificates for P/A horses and their pedigrees. It has data of P/A horses worldwide.
European Conference of Arab Horse Organisations (ECAHO) in 1994 – This Conference supervises all P/A horse shows held around the world by Member Countries. It is worth mentioned that the State of Qatar, having the most beautiful P/A horses in the world, pays a lot of attention to P/A horse shows supervised by ECAHO. Such shows are attended by concerned professionals from all over the world, as well as representatives of both ECAHO and WAHO to supervise the shows.
In 1990, the State of Qatar became Member of the Executive Committee of the Federation Equestre International <(FEI).
In 2000, the State of Qatar chaired the Development & Rating Committee of IFAHR.
In November 2001, the State of Qatar became Member of the Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF).
In January 2002, the State of Qatar filled the office of the Vice Chairman of IFAHR.
Since 2008, the State of Qatar has been filling the office of the Chairman of IFAHR. Mr. Sami Jassim Al Boenain, REC General Manager, is the Chairman of IFAHR.
Horse Race Meetings
The Racing & Equestrian Club has been organising national race meetings since it was established in 1975. It has been encouraging horse owners to own the best horses and to improve horse breeding. It has been holding race meetings for all available horse breeds owned by local horse owners. With effect from the 2000-2001 RacingSeason, the REC has been organising the Qatar International Equestrian Festival (QIEF), which is an annual one-week event. The first Festival was held in March 2001. Arab and international horse owners, trainers and jockeys are keen to participate and be part of QIEF.