In the early morning hours at Santa Anita, horses and exercise riders gather at the gap. As they wait, some horses are jumpy and anxious. They swirl and twirl as their rider whirls around to control them. One large, chestnut Thoroughbred stood calmly in the sunlight in front of me. With his left hand holding the reins loosely, the rider’s right hand slowly gave his horse a neck massage. He started at the poll and worked down the bridle path and mane.

Saturday’s Dubai World Cup Festival at Meydan Racecourse brought together racing’s international elite and thousands of fans to celebrate fashion, fireworks, music, and first and foremost, some of the world’s best horse racing.