A’Seeb,
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik presided over the Royal Horse Racing Festival at Madinat Al Adiyat racecourse in the Wilayat of A’Seeb in the Governorate of Muscat today.
Prior to the arrival of His Majesty the Sultan, a squad of the Royal Camel Corps was in place, and it accompanied the Royal motorcade to the gate of Madinat Al Adiyat. Then, the Royal motorcade was surrounded by squads from the Royal Cavalry and the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), which all escorted the Royal motorcade from the gate to the main dais.
Upon His Majesty’s arrival at Madinat Al Adiyat, a number of officials were honoured to receive him. They were Nasr bin Hamoud Al Kindi, Secretary General of the Royal Court Affairs, Eng. Hilal bin Mohammed Al Wa’eli, Head of Royal Horses, Camels, Farms and Parks Affairs, and Dr. Sarhan bin Salim Al Zeidi, Director General of the Royal Cavalry.
When His Majesty the Sultan ascended the main dais, the musical band played the Royal Anthem.
A welcoming show signalled the start of the festival, which saw marvellous performances by Omani folklore troupes and dancing horses and camels, which together revived centuries-old arts locally called “Al Nadba”, “Hambal Al Khail”, “Qasafi Al Razha” and “Muhurab Al Khail”, in addition to a show of folk arts of “Hambal Al Razha” and “Al Bar’ah”.
His Majesty the Sultan’s Horse Racing Cup in the 5th round of “Al Adiyat Race” for pure Arabian horses, a 2,000 metre-run was won by “Soko”, owned by the Royal Cavalry and jockeyed by Michael Forest. Second place went to “RB Blast Off”, owned by HH Sayyid Saud bin Harib Al Said and jockeyed by Adam Al Balushi while “Suny Du Loup”, owned by the Royal Cavalry and jockeyed by Cannor Beasley came in the third place.
In the first round, named “Al Muriyat Race” for pure Arabian horses, a 1,100 metre race dedicated to female jockeys of the Royal Cavalry, first place was won by “Atheer”, ridden by Maather Al Shamakhi. Second place was won by “Al Tariq”, jockeyed by Asmahan Al Balushi, while third place went to “Al Mouna”, ridden by Hiba Al Rahbi.
This was followed by a number of performances by the Royal Cavalry’s male and female horse riders, who exhibited a variety of equestrian sports and skills, including tent pegging, mounted archery, sleigh and troika skills, show-jumping and horse and camel dressage.
In the second round, named “Al Mughairat Race” for pure Arabian horses, a 1,100-metre run, first place was won by “Amusylah”, owned by the Royal Cavalry and jockeyed by Al Moatasem Al Balushi. Second place was won by “Al Araiq”, owned by the Royal Cavalry and ridden by Muanis Al Seyabi, while “RB Sdeik”, owned by HH Sayyida Thuraiya Thuwaini Al Said jockeyed by Abdulaziz Al Balushi won third place.
This was followed by a horse parade art show locally named “Ardhat Al Khail”. Then, a number of school students, children with hearing disability and Down syndrome performed a show of “Thanks and Gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan”, to the tunes of a song titled “Knight of the Nation.”
Then, the third round of the race, named “Al Qadihat Race” for pure Arabian horses, 1,600 metre-run, was held. First place was won by “Muthabir”, owned by the Royal Cavalry and jockeyed by Saif Al Balushi. Second place was won by “RB Kinsman”, owned by HH Sayyid Saud bin Harib Al Said and jockeyed by Khalid Al Balushi, while “RB Yas Man”, owned by HH Sayyid Shihab bin Harib Al Said and ridden by Amer Al Rasbi won third place.
After the end of the third round, the Royal Cavalry staged a parade that saw the participation of sections of horse beauty pageantry, including “Al Sawlajan” (the mace). This was followed by horse relay race show and a show of equestrian skills and a show of fast horse and camel carriages.
The Royal Cavalry’s male and female jockeys also performed a show of the beauty of the Arabian horse, a mace game and a basketball game on horseback.
In the fourth round, named “Al Safinat Race” for pure Arabian horses, 1,600-metre run allocated to the horses of citizens, “Jethjath”, owned by Abdullah Al Maamari and jockeyed by Amer Al Rasbi won first place. Second place was won by “Al Grain”, owned by Taher Al Khalili and ridden by Muanis Al Seyabi, while third place was won by “RB Free Bird”, owned by Khalid Al Balushi and jockeyed by Anas Al Seyabi.
This was followed by a fun race for young riders, and a joint fun race for young children on ponies, and a fun race of white donkey carts and bicycles.
To the tunes of music, “Al Ardha horses” formed the number “11” in celebration of the 11th of January, His Majesty the Sultan’s accession day, while a musical band formed the name of His Majesty the Sultan (Haitham), in addition to forming the number (2020) to indicate the year His Majesty assumed power in the country, in addition to forming the name (Al Adiyat) in the backyard of the parade ground. After that, a show demonstrating skills for laydown horses and camels was presented.
The closing tableau of the festival saw all participants line up in the parade ground and perform “Al Azi”, an Omani traditional art, voicing expressions of love of the homeland and loyalty to the leader. Then, the participants chanted the “finale anthem”, while a carriage pulled by 55 horses passed before the Royal dais, the first such performance of its kind, marking the 55th anniversary of Oman’s blessed Renaissance. Carriages from the Royal Camel Corps participated in the procession.
After that, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik presented the cups to top winners of the races. Then, a musical band played the Royal Anthem, marking the conclusion of the festival’s activities.
After the end of the festival, His Majesty the Sultan accepted a souvenir presented by Nasr bin Hamoud Al Kindi, Secretary General of the Royal Court Affairs.
The Royal Horse Racing Festival was attended by Royal Family members, Al Busaid dignitaries, the Chairmen of the State Council and the Shura Council, ministers, advisers, the commanders of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the Royal Oman Police (ROP), Heads of the diplomatic missions accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, members of the State Council and the Shura Council, undersecretaries, judges, senior officers, those interested in equestrian sports, students and citizens.
