<
São Paulo – A horse race at the São Paulo Jockey Club this Sunday (25) will mark the Arab Community Day, celebrated every year on March 25. The race is organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Brazilian Association of Arabian Horse Breeders (ABCCA) and the São Paulo Jockey Club.
The race is open to the public and admission free, with betting on the horses allowed. Nine Arab thoroughbreds will compete in the Arab Chamber Grand Prix (Arab Chamber GP): Cantiga VE, Heron HVP, Marei Rach, Orchestra Rach, Passion Rach, Rhondo Rach, Orthodox Rach, Zells Kate and Zelss Zenyatta.
The first seven horses of the list were born in Brazil and the last two were born in the United States, says ABCCA’s vice president of Racing and Endurance, Almir Ribeiro. According to him, the competitors are the best Arab racing horses in Brazil as of today. This will be the fifth edition.
According to Ribeiro, the race is part of the schedule of Arab horse racing in Brazil, which, in turn, is part of the Arab horse racing calendar in the world. This Sunday’s competition opens, officially, the season of Arab horse racing in Brazil, according to ABCCA’s vice president of Racing and Endurance.
“It’s very satisfying for us to be able to celebrate the Arab Community Day in its many aspects,” says the Arab Chamber’s president, Rubens Hannun, recalling other initiatives developed for the date, such as exhibitions and film festivals. He points out that the Arab thoroughbred race at the Jockey is already a tradition for the date and has a cultural profile.
The activities start at 1:30 with a parade of the animals, who will be, along with their respective jockeys, dressed in typical attire of Arab countries. Soon after, the race will start, with a prize of BRL 20,000 (USD 6,200) for the owners and staff of the winning horses.
The Arab Chamber’s board of directors will attend the race. Ribeiro is also inviting the community to watch the race and enjoy the other leisure options at the São Paulo Jockey Club. The club, located in the Cidade Jardim district, has many leisure options with two restaurants and food trucks, plus a space for children and a green area, among others.
The Arab Community Day is celebrated on March 25 in a reference to the famous retail street in São Paulo. It was on this street that the first Arab immigrants established their stores when they had just arrived in the country at the end of the 19th century. Currently, the Arabs and their descendants for a large community in Brazil, with members holding important positions in politics, medical and economic sectors, among others.
Quick info
Arab Thoroughbred Race
Sunday, March 25, 2018, at 1:30 pm
São Paulo Jockey Club
Av. Lineu de Paula Machado, 1263 – Cidade Jardim – São Paulo – SP
Admission free – betting at the race for the general public
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
