Paper apologises to Dubai prince

LONDON, England -- Horse owner Sheikh Mohammed has received an apology and damages from a UK paper which falsely accused him of gambling.

Gambling is prohibited by Sheik Mohammed's Muslim religion.

The Daily Mail alleged in its May 21 gossip column report that the Dubai crown prince had placed a five-figure bet with betting agency Ladbrokes on his horse Balanchine in two classic races.

It called the allegation "regrettable."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rachid al-Maktoum's solicitor Sarah Payne said the paper and columnist Nigel Dempster now accepted that the allegation was untrue.

"The claimant does not gamble and, more importantly, as a practising Muslim and prominent member of the Islamic community which forbids gambling, this allegation was deeply offensive as well as gravely damaging to the claimant's reputation," Payne told Reuters news agency.

She said that the newspaper had also agreed to make a "generous donation" to a charity of Sheikh Mohammed's choice and to pay his legal costs.

Sheikh Mohammed's stable has enjoyed a string of major racing victories.