Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, brother of Sheikh Mohammed, has died

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE’s Minister of Finance and Industry, has died.

The news was announced by his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, through his official Twitter account.

Sheikh Hamdan was the second son of Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who passed away in 1990 after ruling the emirate for 32 years, beginning in 1958.

Sheikh Hamdan spent his life in Dubai, studying at Al-Ahlia school before travelling to Bell School of Languages in Cambridge, according to Gulf News.

Sheikh Hamdan was one of the UAE’s leading supporters of thoroughbred racing, which has become synonymous with the emirate.

Few people in the history of horse racing could claim to have influenced the sport as much as much as Sheikh Hamdan did, Jon Ivan-Duke told Esquire Middle East.

“The late owner and breeder was pivotal in the way he swept up the sales rings with multimillion dollar purchases around the globe. Many of these intelligent acquisitions were destined to perform for him on the racetrack and later as prized stallions at his notable Shadwell Farm operations. To any racing follower, his famous cobalt blue silks with white epaulettes, were as recognisable as a Manchester United shirt or Real Madrid jersey are to football fans,” says Ivan-Duke.

His biggest achievements on the racetrack included two winners of the Derby at Epsom, the blue riband event of the Flat racing calendar in the UK.

“Those heroes, Nashwan and Erhaab, are included alongside other famous triumphs, including Dubai World Cup winners Almutakwakel and Invasor. The latter also won a Breeders’ Cup Classic (the pinnacle of international racing in the United States) and he secured Australia’s most famous race, the Melbourne Cup, twice, with At Talaq and Jeune. Last year, his incredible sprinter Battaash was named as Sprinter of the Year at the annual Cartier Awards,” Ivan-Duke continued.

A powerful figure in thoroughbred racing, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum was also an influential force in Arabian horse racing too.

“His loss to horse racing will not just be in his willingness to put millions of dollars into his operations or in his huge successes on the track, but his passion and dedication in elevating the United Arab Emirates as a major powerhouse on the global horse racing circuit.”

Jim Crowley, a jockey for Sheikh Hamdan, was very saddened by his news of his passing.

“You would not meet a more honest and loyal man. I will be forever grateful to him. It’s been an honour and a privilege to ride for him,” said Crowley.