Most of the crowd had straggled out of Nad Al Sheba Racecourse and there were no other horses in the holding barn behind the grandstand when Curlin returned there from the test barn following the greatest victory of his career.

Among those waiting to greet Curlin as he galloped back triumphantly to the Nad Al Sheba winner’s circle was his nearly white stable pony, Pancho, who had accompanied him in the post parade while steered by exercise rider Carlos Rosas.

Trainer Steve Asmussen shared his triumphant Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) night with the most important members of his family—his father and mother, trainers Keith and Marilyn Asmussen of Laredo, Texas, and his wife, Julie, and their three young blue-eyed sons, Keith James, Darren Scott and Eric Mark, who were all dressed in matching brown pin-striped suits.

Just moments after Curlin romped across the finish line in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), jockey Robby Albarado’s wife Kimber, who was brushing tears of joy from her eyes, gleefully remembered what the rider had promised he would do if he won the race.

Together, trainer Steve Asmussen, jockey Robby Albarado and owner Jess Jackson have won more than 8,000 races—but none even remotely like the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).

Horse of the Year Curlin seems to have it all, and his racing record more than backs up that assessment. But what is he like to be around every day? What kind of an individual is this sculpted specimen with the fiery red hair?

For his part, Pancho seems to sense when it is time to start moving in order to meet Curlin following his work, Blasi said, often going on his own initiative at just the right time. Pancho is patient with both humans and horses. Blasi said he can hoist anyone aboard Pancho’s broad back, and has even put all three of Asmussen’s young sons on the pony at one time, with no objection or unruly behavior displayed by the gelding.

This is the story of a near tragedy and a new beginning for a horse and of the reawakening of a man’s purest passion for racing. The horse is the exquisitely handsome bay Well Armed, who just two years ago was languished near death after suffering a painful fracture in his hip.

Most jockeys don’t ordinarily put morning workouts on their lists of favorite things to do. Yet three American jockeys have traveled to Dubai just to handle exercise for some of the 15 horses based in the United States while they prepared for races on today’s Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) program.

Not long after dawn broke on Friday morning in Dubai, Scott Blasi decided to change plans with Curlin. Instead of taking the Horse of the Year to the main track at Nad Al Sheba-where Curlin will try to capture the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on Saturday - he opted to venture to the more secluded training track for the colt's final pre-race gallop.

No American knows more about the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) from personal experience than Jim Cornes. The Dubai Racing Club official and former assistant to four-time Dubai champion trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has witnessed all but one of the previous 12 runnings of the world's richest race and will be there Saturday to see if Curlin can join the elite group of winners.

In yet another vivid demonstration of the vast global reach of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) program, the president of Chechnya swooped on Friday to purchase Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) contender Mourilyan.

The racing aficionado's life is far from complete without a visit to a camel racetrack. Sure, there might be no sight more compelling than a Thoroughbred in full flight. Curlin, for example, is the epitome of power and grace in one "complete package," as assistant trainer Scott Blasi likes to say.

As racing fans and participants from around the world gathered at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on Thursday for "Breakfast with the Stars," there was one name that seemed to be on everyone's lips: Curlin. People from Australia to Europe to South America to Asia all wanted to see the American Horse of the Year with their own eyes, to gauge how good he might really be before he races for the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on Saturday.

Jess Jackson is a man whose achievements and successes could fill many books. Yet the founder of the Kendall-Jackson Winery and self-made billionaire has found his lifetime dream come true at age 78 in the shape of a chestnut colt with a white blaze named Curlin.