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| Staff Writer |
Beyond the glittering trophy presentations and multimillion-dollar purses of Dubai's racing scene, a Scottish veterinarian stands as the guardian of equine welfare, orchestrating one of the world's most complex systems of horse health and safety. For David Craig, Head of Equine Health and Welfare at the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA), it's more than just a job – it's a passion that has shaped his remarkable journey from treating farm animals in Scotland to overseeing veterinary protocols at one of the world's premier racing destinations.
"As they say, if you like what you do, you never work a day," Craig reflects. "In horse racing, everyone involved - vets, stewards, starters - tends to have an absolute love for the sport and horses, because without horses, we have nothing."
"Dubai is an incredible hub for the international movement of horses. We move around 6,000 horses a year, importing around three and a half thousand horses in a calendar year. Making sure those horses arrive safely and get home safely is the key part of my job."
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After graduating from Glasgow University in 2007, Craig's veterinary odyssey took him from mixed practice in Scotland to specialised equine work across three continents. His experience in Australia, Hong Kong, and the UK has proved invaluable in his current role, where he's spent the last nine years developing and implementing comprehensive quarantine protocols that have helped establish Dubai as a global racing powerhouse.
"UAE is an incredible hub, and that's testament to Sheikh Mohammed's work and support from the very early days in 1995 onwards, with the first World Cup taking place in '96. All the appropriate protocols were put in place at that time, in terms of building the best quarantine facilities, maintaining those facilities, vector proofing them - the standards here are very high."
Working alongside the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Craig's team has established stringent testing protocols for incoming horses. "We test horses before they come into the country, and we'll do risk assessment with the Ministry. We provide support, working on risk analysis on different countries and where horses can come from, what testing we need in place before they arrive, and what testing we put in place after they arrive."
The scope of this operation is remarkable, with every equine arrival - from elite racehorses to zebras - subject to the same rigorous protocols. "Every equine animal - horses, zebras, donkeys, Shetland ponies, top show jumpers, top racehorses - they all go through the same process because diseases can spread from any equine animal. We need to ensure the entire population stays healthy."
On Dubai World Cup night, Craig's role transforms into a carefully choreographed operation that begins long before the first horse enters the starting gates. "It's a stressful time," he admits. "We're getting horses into the country, ensuring they're safe. We coordinate with our neighbours in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, who also have races around that time, managing horses coming from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Europe."
Working alongside colleague Dr Nigel Haizelden, Craig's team follows each race from start to finish - literally chasing the field around Meydan's vast dirt and turf tracks. This unique perspective gives them an unparalleled view of the action and allows for immediate response to any incidents.
"We're at the start when horses load into the gates, then we get into our car. Our driver takes us around the track. We chase the horses around, then ensure they all get home safely and follow up on anything stewards need. Apart from jockeys, we're seeing the action as close as anyone."
The logistics of following races at Meydan present their own challenges. "Meydan has vast dirt and turf tracks. Depending on the start location, sometimes you can't get all the way around. You'll see vets at the back where horses are loading, then we follow them around, ensuring everyone gets home as safely as possible."
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Craig's approach to examining horses competing across different surfaces is refreshingly straightforward and has helped establish consistent standards across all racing at Meydan. "We don't differ between the two, because a horse is a horse, regardless of the surface. If a horse is unsound on one surface, if it has a lameness or an issue, it will not be better on a different surface."
His experience spans both Thoroughbred and Arabian racing, noting the distinct challenges each presents. "Thoroughbreds are generally faster animals, so they have more high-speed injuries. Arabian horses often have cumulative injuries from accumulated stresses, but we treat them all the same."
"For World Cup and lead-up, all horses undergo the same examinations, regardless of whether they're Arabians, Thoroughbreds, running on dirt or turf, or competing in the top Group One race or any other race."
This commitment to standardised care extends to the ERA's work with visiting international horses and veterinary teams. As Craig explains, "Equine vets are a small population, and regulatory equine vets are even smaller. It's all about communication and collaboration. We have close working relationships with our colleagues within the GCC. We can bounce ideas off each other and discuss similarities and differences."
The ERA's veterinary practices continue to evolve with technology while maintaining the irreplaceable value of experienced clinical judgment. Craig's position as the Middle East representative for the International Group of Specialist Regulatory Veterinarians and his seat on the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) welfare panel puts him at the forefront of veterinary innovation in racing.
"Certainly, it's a growth area within the profession, with much research and development. We are blessed to be close to equine hospitals, which are incredibly well-equipped for clinical care. We're using software that analyses horse gait objectively. Though it won't replace human eyes - it's an adjunct we're exploring."
The ERA's commitment to international best practices is evident in their comprehensive testing programme. "As a jurisdiction, we test a comparable number of horses to any jurisdiction. We're very open about that. It's important to actually be testing, not just to be seen testing, but to keep track of what's happening."
Their work with the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Zabeel, under the guidance of Dr. Ali Ridha and Dr. Ulli Wernery, has contributed significantly to global equine health research, particularly in developing new vaccines for African horse sickness, a disease with a 95% mortality rate.
"It's testament to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the lab team at CVRL in Zabeel, the research they've put into African horse sickness over the years, and the approach to finding a new vaccine we're involved with. It shows His Highness's global perspective - while he wants Dubai to be number one, he believes in bringing everyone up."
Looking towards the future, Craig's focus remains clear. "The key thing is breakdown rates in horses and trying to minimise them as far as possible. We are looking at technologies around that and how we can improve the safety of surfaces, improve the safety of horses running, making sure that horses that have an issue don't run, and picking them up earlier."
The work doesn't end when the Dubai World Cup concludes. "For myself and my team in the quarantine office, the import and export office, and our ministry colleagues, we need to get everything home again. It takes another two weeks after the World Cup until everyone's safely home."
"The best thing for me is seeing the racing as I'm a fan. But mainly, I want the horses all home safe, back to their stables that night, and then successfully sent home. That's our key priority."
This dedication to equine welfare, combined with Dubai's world-class facilities and protocols, ensures that the emirate remains at the forefront of international racing, thanks in no small part to veterinary professionals like Craig working tirelessly behind the scenes to maintain the highest standards of equine care and safety.
As he continues to oversee the health and welfare of thousands of horses passing through Dubai each year, Craig's role exemplifies the evolving nature of modern racing - where success is measured not just in victories and prize money, but in the safe and healthy movement of equine athletes across the globe. His work, and that of his team, ensures that Dubai remains not just a destination for world-class racing, but a leader in equine welfare and veterinary excellence.