Horse racing is the most popular spectator event in Dubai, and the $6 million Dubai cup sponsored by Emirates Airline is the largest race of the calendar. With a total prize purse of a staggering $21.25 million, it’s no surprise that this year’s event in March was attended by 50,000 people. The history of horses in the Emirates is nothing new, if not obviously the historic home of track racing, the fact that all modern thoroughbreds trace back to three stallions — the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerly Turk — imported to England from the Middle East three centuries ago should go someway to explaining the root of horse passion in the area. So head down to the Nad Al Sheba racetrack and sample the Ascot of the Middle East, complete with fashionistas only with more bling.