The dream continues

by John Mucciolo

Have you ever been to a party with a few hundred well-dressed, polite and intelligent people, in the Dubai Marina that was graced with the presence of one of the world's great visionaries who happens to rule a nation, eating cuisine created by five-star chefs, on an evening with perfect weather, a jaw-dropping backdrop of a sensational city line, with superb live music, riders doing tricks on equine specimens, that also included a handful of brave souls that landed in the center of the action skydiving from a helicopter, and which was followed by a 5-minute display of indescribable fireworks?

I have.

The Welcome Reception for the 20^th Dubai World Cup on Thursday evening caught me off guard, one of the greatest spectacles I will ever see.

The event was so spectacular, that I honestly can’t imagine how Saturday, when there is actually horse racing, can top this night. I may have been the only one crying during the fireworks display – but I have no shame in that -- it was that beautiful to me.

I am still in awe that I have only been in Dubai for 36 hours or so, as it feels like a lifetime wrapped up in that small window.

There is just so much to say about this amazing locale but I promise to deliver some content about actual horse racing soon – that’s why we’re here, to watch some of the world’s best horses perform.

And the prelude to the Dubai World Cup program could not be any better.