Arabian racing is back on Victorian racetracks tomorrow with the staging of the $20,000 Shadwell Arabian Mile - reports Kim Woods of the Weekly Times.

The 1600m race at Caulfield will be sandwiched between races four and five of the Melbourne Racing Club's Anniversary Vase meeting.

Although purebred Arabians raced on tracks in regional Victoria in the 1990s, racing was halted by restrictions under the Accident Compensation Act.

Deputy ruler of Dubai and Arabian breeder Sheik Hamdan Bin Radhid Al Maktoum has offered $20,000 in prizemoney to kick-start Arabian racing in Victoria.

National Arabian Racehorse Association chairman Maureen Milburn said the race was open to purebred Arabians of both sexes.

She said 12 nominations had been received from NSW, Queensland, ACT and Victoria.

Victoria has about 9000 purebred Arabians, with about 30 registered Arabian racehorses and 10 trainers.

Mrs Milburn said Arab racing would only ever be an exhibition until legislative changes were made.

Saturday's race had been made possible by amendments to legislation about 12 months ago, she said

The race was originally scheduled for February but cancelled due to floods.

The race meeting will showcase Arab culture, food and tourism, with guests including the United Arab Emirates ambassador, Victorian premier and Minister for Racing.

CLICK HERE to read the Macedon Ranges Leader's report about endurance horse rider Kim Noble and how she's swapping endurance for racing!