By Bashir Bello
Mustapha Abubakar-Bida, the National Coordinator, Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria, HRFN, says Nigeria-bred horses will soon meet up global standards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar-Bida disclosed this during the grand finale of the Kano derby competition with the theme, Renewed Hope International Horse Racing Derby, on Saturday.
He said thàt during the competition, the Nigeria-bred horses increased in their skills, speed and strength.
According to him, horses that always raced for about 1 minute, 10 seconds for 5 falons now raced it in 1 minute, describing the feat as one of the highest speeds one can get in a horse.
“Today history has also been made in the sense that our horses that were born and bred in Nigeria are breaking records day by day.
“You know in their final race for today, their skill, their speed has increased. They have always raced for about 1 minute, 10 seconds for 5 falons.
“So, we are moving closer to breaking a global record as far as speed of racing is concerned and now this is also putting Nigeria at the global stage.
“What it means is that gradually we are getting there. We are going to have horses that can be rated as the top speed horses in the world. Now this is one of the major things that happened,” he said.
Abubakar-Bida also said that the introduction of the starting gate has improved time management and uplift the horse racing standard.
He said the federation targets to be first in Africa to produce female jockeys with the novelty female race held during the competition.
“This is the first time in Africa you have girls racing in an international event. We are encouraging the female folks to also come into the racing activities in line with global practice.
“Horse racing for women has been happening in Europe and America for over 40 years. So this is another record breaking.
“We want to see Nigeria as the first African nation to produce female jockeys that will be trained here in Nigeria and will be able to compete globally,” Abubakar-Bida said.
Horses from the Speedy stables in Bauchi and S.D stables in Niger dominated the competition after winning first prizes of car and cup as well as cash prizes for other various positions.
In race 23 (5F – 1000M), horse named Abba and in race 19 (10F – 2000M), horse named Lailatu Qadri, both from S.D stable in Niger won first positions in President Bola Tinubu cup and Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar cup respectively.
In race 20 (10F – 2000M), horse named Lailatul Qadir and in race 21 (10F – 2000M), horse named Salsabil, both from Speedy stable in Bauchi won first positions in Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II cup and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad-Abubakar III cup respectively.
Meanwhile, in race 22 (10F – 2000M), horse named Hannan from Alhàji Tajuddeen Dantata stable in Kano and in race 18 (10F – 2000M), Hayaniya from Ameer stable in Katsina won the first positions in Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf cup and Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata memorial cup respectively.
The Director of Speedy Stable, Abubakar Sulaiman-Ilo, said the horse named Lailatul Qadir has made history after winning the ninth car in the competition.
Sulaiman-Ilo, who said the feat was first in the racing history in Nigeria, expressed optimism that their stable would maintain the dominance. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz