Shelby's Dubai Diary

A day at the racetrack in Dubai: English soccer stars and sheikhs mingle amid the opulence of a $30 million purse

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — We knew the athletic guys in the suite next to us at the Meydan Racecourse were no mere thoroughbred enthusiasts. But until we ventured over to ask, we had no idea a former Houston Dynamo star was in the mix.

Geoff Cameron, a star player for the Dynamo from 2008 to 2012 and a member of the United States national team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and his fellow players from the Stoke City team were enjoying a break from the cold and damp of England's winter.

"It's very different. The hardest thing is living in this climate," Cameron said of his football club's headquarters in Staffordshire. "Being in Houston and finally getting used to the heat and then jumping into cold, dark, wet and gloomy everyday was tough."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a huge racing fan and owns numerous race horses.

The Massachusetts native wasn't complaining on this balmy Dubai night. The team had been invited by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to spend a few days as his guests in the warm desert sun. Still, Cameron, said they were training each day while in Dubai.

No regrets for the soccer pro who acknowledged, "But now I'm playing in the best league in the world," the English Premiere League.

Our visit to the track coincided with the start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival which culminates March 28 with the Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline. It's the richest cup in the world with a $30 million purse including the top prize of $10 million. Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a huge racing fan and owns numerous race horses.

The Meydan Racecourse opened in 2010 with 60,000 seats including 72 slick corporate suites. The vast development includes The Meydan Hotel, named the World's Leading Sports Hotel at the 2014 World Travel Awards. It's billed as the world's first five-star, track side hotel with 284 rooms, all overlooking the racetrack.

The Emirates boasts five racetracks, some referred to as racing clubs or equestrian clubs. They are under the supervision of the Emirates Racing Authority. The racing season takes place during the cooler winter months.

Next up in Shelby's Dubai Diary: A shopper's paradise with mega malls, ice skating, snow skiing and plenty to buy. To view the previous day's story in this week long series, click here. (Shelby Hodge's trip to Dubai was hosted by Emirates Airline.)

Dubai's vast Meydan complex includes a racetrack, swank hotel and conference center.

courtesy photo

Dubai's vast Meydan complex includes a racetrack, swank hotel and conference center.

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TRANSPORTATION NEWS

Luxury commuter van startup connects Houston with Austin and San Antonio

Photo courtesy of Shutto.

Shutto's regular routes travel most of the Texas Triangle.

Houstonians now have a new way to hop between cities, and it comes with Wi-Fi, leather seats, and a guaranteed Buc-ee’s stop. On November 17, mobility startup Shutto launched its luxury van service connecting San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, offering travelers a more comfortable alternative to flying or long-haul rideshare.

Bookings are now available Monday through Saturday with departure times in the morning and evening. One-way fares range from $47-$87, positioning Shutto in a similar lane to Dallas-based Vonlane, which also offers routes from Houston to Austin and San Antonio.

Unlike other regional transit options, Shutto builds Texas road-trip culture into every journey. Each route includes a pit stop at Buc-ee’s so riders can stock up on kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, and drinks.

In announcing the launch, founder and CEO Alberto Salcedo called the company a new category in Texas mobility.

“We are bringing true disruptive mobility to Texas: faster and more convenient than flying (no security lines, no delays), more comfortable and exclusive than the bus or train, and up to 70 percent cheaper than private transfers or Uber Black,” Salcedo said in a release. “Whether you’re commuting for business, visiting family, exploring Texas wineries, or doing a taco tour in San Antonio, Shutto makes traveling between these cities as easy and affordable as riding inside the city.”

Shutto enters the market at a time when highway congestion is a hotter topic than ever. With high-speed rail still years in the future, its model aims to provide fast, predictable service at commuter prices. The startup touts an on-time departure guarantee and a relaxed ride. Only 12 passengers fit inside each Mercedes Sprinter van.

Beyond the scheduled routes, Shutto offers private, customizable trips anywhere in the country, a service the company expects will appeal to corporate retreat planners, wedding parties, and tourists wanting to make a day of crawling Hill Country wineries and breweries.

The day-to-day service picks up at the Foam Coffee & Kitchen parking lot at 5819 Richmond Ave. near the Galleria. In San Antonio, it picks up at La Panadería Bakery’s parking lot at 8305 Broadway. In Austin, vans depart from the Pershing East Café parking lot at 2501 E. Fifth St.

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