MUSCAT -- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos will today preside over an annual Royal Horse Racing Festival which will be held at Al Adiyat racing course, Seeb. It will be attended by Royal Family members, chairmen of the Majlis Addawla and Majlis Ash'shura, ministers, advisers and diplomats.
As many as 1,100 horse riders from the Royal Cavalry, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Stables and private stables will take part in the race. The riders also include 304 skilled equestrian sports students (boys and girls) who will ride 777 horses. The festival consists of six races ranging from 2,200 metres to 110 metres.
Competition will be tough among participants in the sixth race, the longest of all runs (2,200). In this race, spectators' eyes will be set on Al Kasih, the Royal Cavalry's horse which won last year's cup, as well as the ROP's Raffea and Omar al Zawawi Stable's Baheej. The winner of HM's Cup last year was Saeed bin Batti al Badi who rode the victor Al Kasih.
Exciting horse shows will be held in intervals of the races. This year, the festival includes new show programmes. There will be a horse-mounted march, a first time special girls' horse racing, arrow shooting by horse riders, a racing of Canadian-type chariots, a special show jumping and horse pageantry.
By Khalid al Maamari
© Oman Daily Observer 2007
