Horse racing in Bahrain
|
Horse Racing in Bahrain
|
When:
|
Oct 2008 - Mar 2009; Fri only (annual)
|
|
Where:
|
Sakhir Race Course
|
| Costs: |
Free
|
Bahrain's love of all things equestrian is evident in its splendid Sakhir Race Course, which has a grandstand for 3000 spectators. During the racing season, from October to March, you can see beautiful Arabian purebreds and thoroughbreds hurdle and flat race each Friday. Betting is strictly prohibited.
Experts from the UK were employed to design and construct the race track in 1981. It consists of two 2.4km grass tracks with a straight of 1.2km, one sand track, and stables for 300 horses.
Normally there are six races each day, with an average field of eight runners, five races for thoroughbreds and one for purebreds.
Bahrain's racing industry is largely thriving thanks to the Amir of Bahrain, who has been importing quality bloodstock to improve the local thoroughbred stock, with the aim of racing with locally-bred thoroughbreds in larger numbers.
|