While the world’s most elite thoroughbreds strive for glory at the Dubai World Cup at Meydan, few amongst the over 60,000 local spectators appreciate the immense logistical planning that goes into transporting these animals to the UAE. While the swift horses and intense competitions steal the show, the journey is one of planning, precision, care, and dedication.
Most of the horses competing at the Dubai World Cup are worth several million dollars and their owners, trainers, and caregivers spare no effort to make sure their prize horses are in top shape. These horses come from countries with deep-rooted racing customs and the United States, Japan, the UK, Australia among others. There is a spider’s web of logistics, planning, and coordination involved even before the horses are brought to Dubai for the award winning event.
Crossing timelines and continents: the journey commences
The first concern in transporting these racehorses to Dubai is the extensive distance they need to travel. Depending on their location, these horses can be airlifted across several continents, sometimes freighting their horses. The horses are transported in specialized airhorse containers, with heavily mitigated stress flight itineraries for the horses. Most of these horses will depend on longhaul flights of over 16 hours, meaning every detail towards their journey becomes crucial.
Bow-legged and withering on a vet; horses set off to the journey bound with an air stall. These stalls enable them to rest in a standing position which soothes their muscles throughout the flight, along with secured veterinary sedatives. Soothe them for the flight and they will not move which makes them and everyone else comfortable during their journey.
All competing horses, upon arrival in Dubai, the horses have to go through strict biosecurity health assessment procedures. These processes include quarantining horses to monitor them for any possible diseases that may put the other horses at the event at risk. The thoroughbreds are also monitored closely to make sure they are not suffering from travel-related stress or fatigue.
A Team of Experts
All over Dubai, there are many professionals whose dedication enables successful travel for horses to Dubai. This includes grooms, trainers, veterinarians, and transporters which shows that a great deal of knowledge is mandatory to facilitate such travel.
When the horses have been brought to the Dubai Race Course (DRC), they are given time to relax before the racing season begins. The stable staff makes certain however that no single horse is neglected. From diet to exercise and even medicare, all the steps that are tailored to the horses are aimed at assisting them recover from the grueling trip and get ready for the main racing day.
Trainers and jockeys work together with veterinarians to optimize the horses’ performance. Some horses may have training sessions on the Meydan track so that they can familiarize themselves with the conditions of the racecourse. Others may benefit from specialized massage therapy or physiotherapy to prepare the horses for peak performance.
The Stakes Are High
The sum total of the prize money, nearly $30.5 million (Dh112 million) brings unparalleled strain to each participant. For the horses, winning is not the only goal, rather their best performance is essential at perhaps the most critical moment in their career. In this case, every single aspect, including their health, diet, and training, is attended to in order to fulfill the strenuous requirements of the race.
In this case, dutiful owners and trainers will tell you that every detail pertaining to horse care and travel is exhaustively and painstakingly planned. With the entire racing community focused on Dubai, the horses’ travel and overall well being become paramount, grooming even the smallest of details in attempt to avert potentially derailing performance issues.
Beyond The Glamour: The Unseen Effort
The Dubai World Cup is a sight to take in, but the real work goes on behind the curtains. It is astonishing on how much effort goes into transporting the horses, maintaining their health, and other factors that are considered before bringing them to the UAE. Everything requires a level of planning.
All of the stunning equine athletes presented on race day did not put in just effort, with the closing the glitz and glamour, there is a lot more to the barelands of Dubai. The World Cup is the level of achievement for the horses while for the trainers it is the end product of years worth of dedication.
In essence, the glamourous race is a combination of methodical planning, coordination and expertise that generates one of the greatest events in world racing. For all who get to witness it, all the meticulous effort put behind the race is just the beginning.
