Tuesday 18 February, 2025 - Regulatory alignment, integrity, veterinary and horse movement along with race programming and sustainability have been identified by the GCC Horse Racing Cooperation Council’s keys areas for growth across the region in a meeting held in Riyadh on Monday February 17.

Representatives from member states of the GCC gathered to discuss shared challenges and explore opportunities to advance the Middle Eastern horseracing industry.

Attendees were welcomed by HRH Prince Bandar bin Khaled AlFaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, who stressed the importance of regional cooperation in elevating the sport.

Council members and stakeholders discussed the meeting’s key agenda points, led by Council Chairman HE Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Vice Chair, Asian Racing Federation, General Manager and Board Member Emirates Racing Authority.

The members agreed to establish four specialised working groups, each focusing on key pillars essential to a successful racing industry.

The meeting emphasised the importance of adopting a unified approach to race management while ensuring the highest standards of fairness and transparency.

The Chairman and members reaffirmed their commitment to advancing these objectives and expressed their enthusiasm for continued collaboration.

Also in attendance were Vice Chairman His Excellency Salem S Bin Mahfouz (Saudi Arabia), His Excellency Bader Al Darwish (Qatar), His Excellency Yusuf Buheji (Bahrain), His Excellency Retired Brigadier General Abdulrazzaq Al Shahwarzi (Oman), and His Excellency Hisham Jahail (Kuwait).

Yusuf Buheji, CEO of the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club commented: “The GCC Horse Racing Cooperation Council represents an important step forward in strengthening regional collaboration and enhancing the overall competitiveness of our sport. Under the guidance of the Chairman of the High Committee, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, we are committed to fostering a more connected and sustainable racing industry. Through this collective effort, Bahrain looks forward to supporting these initiatives alongside our regional partners to drive the growth of racing across the Middle East.”