Ridecamp: [RC] [Guest] Sheikh Mohammed

Barbara Bowen bluhorse@xxxxxxx

I have read just a bit of the posts on the WEG.  I understand some of the
resentment of the Maktoum family.  I recognize that many riders/trainers in
endurance have benfited greatly from him as well...as has been mentioned.

But, just to offer another perspective of this very wealthy, competitive
man - to my knowledge he provided the largest individual donation to the Red
Cross immediately following the September 11 attacks.  $5,000,000.  He was
in Kentucky buying Thoroughbreds for his racing stable at the time.  (He
wants to win the Kentucky Derby...).  He spends millions (as in 20 - 30
million dollars a year) on yearlings here.  Which is again beneficial to
many in the USA.  For good measure, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
then donated every cent of his winnings (over 2 millions dollars) at last
year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship races to various NY
charities set up for the victims of 9-11.

So, my only point is, although his money seems to have "bought" the success
he wanted in endurance, he is on the other hand, a very generous man.  This
is only one story that would illustrate this fact.  He loans many of his
horses to others as well.  While his trainers deserve great credit, and his
phenomenal horses the most credit for his success, you still have to be able
to ride a little bit to win as often as his family does.



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