Sheikh Rashid Dies At 34

Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum, the eldest son of Dubai ruler and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed, has died at age 34 of a heart attack. Sheikh Rashid was an avid racing enthusiast, racing horses under the Zabeel Racing International banner. Many of Sheikh Rashid’s best horses were U.S.-breds, many of which were imported to Dubai to race, including G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown); triple Grade I winner Richard’s Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) and dual Grade III winner Conveyance (Indian Charlie). Sheikh Rashid’s yellow and red colors were also carried by Grade I winners Henny Hughes (Hennessy) and Game Face (Menifee) in the U.S., and more recently his Surfer (Distorted Humor) won the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 at Meydan in January.

Sheikh Rashid was a graduate of England’s Sandhurst Military Academy in 2002, and was chairman of the UAE Olympic Committee from 2008 to 2012. Like his father, he was an accomplished endurance rider. The Dubai ruler’s court has declared three days of mourning.