Royal recognition for Arabian racing festival

There was royal recognition for the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival at Buckingham Palace on Monday, with the Countess of Wessex receiving the festival's executive director, Lara Sawaya.

The pair met for a private reception held in honour of the Women of the Future Awards, of which the Countess of Wessex is the global ambassador.

The Countess of Wessex is a global ambassador for the Women of the Future AwardsCredit: Chris Jackson

The awards take place on Wednesday and racing is represented in the sports category via amateur rider Page Fuller.

Sawaya said: "The Festival’s sponsorship of the Women of the Future Sport Award is reflective of the collective dedication of HH Sheikh Mansoor and HH Sheikha Fatima to support women of all ages and backgrounds, not only in horseracing but across all sports. We wish Page Fuller the best of luck."

Banks service amendment

A thanksgiving service for Michael Banks, the former permit-holder who trained popular hurdler Clerk's Choice and chairman of Huntingdon racecourse, will be held at St Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden SG19 3AF on Tuesday December 5 at noon. No black ties are to be worn.

Hobbs judgement withheld

The verdict on an appeal lodged by the BHA against the decision of a BHA disciplinary panel to not impose a penalty on Philip Hobbs will not be made public until on or before November 24.

The appeal was submitted following a hearing into whether Hobbs was in breach of Rule (G)2.1 after a prohibited substance was found in the urine of Keep Moving, following a run at Ludlow in January.

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