Doha, October 02 (QNA) - Chairman of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah said the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, held in France, has become a significant platform for showcasing Qatar's commitment to horse racing to the tens of thousands of European spectators who attend annually, firmly placing the country on the global horse racing map.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the official opening ceremony of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Al Attiyah said the Prix not only offers sporting competition but also provides the French and European public with a broad window into purebred Arabian horses and the equestrian heritage of Qatar and the region.
He added that the club is proud of its nearly 20-year partnership with France Galop in sponsoring one of the world's most prestigious and important horse races. He said the partnership has helped elevate the race's stature and strengthen Qatar's presence at the global event, which has been held for more than 100 years.
He added that Qatar's sponsorship of the global race has undoubtedly yielded numerous benefits. In addition to the considerable attention given to the event and the fruitful collaboration with France Galop, Qatar's success in staging the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Group 1) was an important step, particularly because the race takes place on the event's final day. Previously held after the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, it was moved to precede the world-class main race. Furthermore, the €1 million prize for the Qatar Arabian World Cup significantly raised the level of competition by attracting high-quality horses.
Al Attiyah also noted that Qatar's sponsorship of the global race retained a strong cultural dimension through numerous events held in the Heritage Village, which introduced attendees to authentic Qatari heritage and served as a gateway to the country's culture.
He also highlighted the significant sporting and non-sporting benefits Qatar has gained from sponsoring the international race, particularly as sport has become a means of communication between countries and of building bridges of understanding. He noted the club's commitment to presenting a positive image of the State of Qatar during its participation in the event, which draws numerous prominent figures from a range of fields beyond sport.
The QREC Chairman also emphasized the race's significant progress in organization and media coverage. He said elements of this experience would be applied to local races in Doha, both by implementing international racing standards and by encouraging horse owners from outside Qatar to enter major events at Al Rayyan Racecourse, home of the QREC. 
The official opening ceremony of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe took place in Paris on Friday, marking the start of one of the most prestigious and long-established events on the global horse racing calendar.
The QREC delegation was headed by Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah. In his opening address, Al Attiyah highlighted the deep historical ties between QREC and France Galop, whose partnership was established in 2008 on a shared commitment to excellence in horse racing.
"Our enduring relationship with France Galop is founded on a mutual devotion to the horse, an uncompromising pursuit of sporting excellence, and a commitment to preserving our rich equestrian heritage," stated Al Attiyah. "Together, our ambition remains to promote racing at its absolute pinnacle and to afford these exceptional athletes the global stage they deserve."
Discussing the most important races on the final day this Sunday, Al Attiyah pointed to the fierce competition expected in both events. In the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, attention centres on Daryz as he bids for a second consecutive victory following his successful preparatory trial. Meanwhile, the Qatar Arabian World Cup enters a new era as the contender field opens following the retirement of three-time champion Al Ghadeer to stud.
For his part, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of QREC Ahmed Al Shaibani said the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is not merely a horse race but a four-day series of events. He attributed this expansion to Qatar's sponsorship of the event, which has been renewed several times because of the strong mutual trust between QREC and France Galop.
Al Shaibani told QNA that the strategic partnership has given Qatar an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to horse racing generally and Arabian horse racing in particular, especially as the sport continues to develop year after year.
He added that this year's racing program began with the Arqana Arabian Horse Sale, which featured 89 horses from leading breeders worldwide: 56 two-year-olds, six yearlings and 16 racehorses—including five wildcard entries—and 11 locally bred horses. He said the auction attracted strong interest and demand, producing excellent sales across all categories and positively affecting the horse market.
He explained that staging four top-class races for purebred Arabian horses as part of the program at this global event was one of Qatar's principal objectives in sponsoring it. He noted that the Arabian Trophy for colts and Arabian Trophy for fillies at Saint-Cloud racecourse attract strong competition each year because of the quality of the participating horses, whose results in previous editions have set them on course for success in other major races. (QNA)