The Abu Dhabi racecourse is based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and holds thoroughbred flat race meetings from late October until early April. The principal race is the HH Presidents Cup, with other feature equestrian events being the National Day Cup and the Championship Cup. The 2011 running of the Presidents Cup was on 18th December and was won by the James Doyle ridden Jaasoos, trained by D.Salvaratnam. The horse later went on to finish second in the 2012 National Day Cup. The course first opened its gates to thoroughbred racing in 1991, although as early as 1980 the grass race track was laid and, prior to this date, in 1976 the land was used as a riding club. Its founder was His Highness Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and under his guidance the track has continued to develop significantly, with floodlights, a new grandstand sufficiently large enough to seat 5000 people, and a new fibre-turf course. The main course is a right handed 10 furlong grass track with a 2.5 furlong run in. The fibresand course is on the inside of the turf track.
