Horce Racing Back On Track As Moscow Lockdown Eases
Muhammad Rameez Published May 29, 2020 | 11:25 PM
Since mid-May, Russia's main race course has echoed to the shouts of jockeys and the pounding of hooves, while the stands remain empty
Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th May, 2020 ) :Since mid-May, Russia's main race course has echoed to the shouts of jockeys and the pounding of hooves, while the stands remain empty.
Horse racing was the first sport allowed to resume in the Russian capital as part of the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
At the Central Moscow Hippodrome, spectators are not allowed into the stands but they can stream the races live and place bets online.
At weekends the hippodrome holds both flat races and trotting events, where drivers race around on horse-drawn carts known as sulkies.
Alexander Losev, head steward at the Hippodrome, said the jockeys are performing to the best of their abilities because they know spectators are watching them online.
"Of course it's a pity that stands are empty, that the riders and horses cannot hear the buzz of the stands," Losev told AFP.
He compared the jockeys to "artists," saying they get inspiration and "an adrenaline rush" when they see stands full of people.
"This is of course a different game," Losev said.
Before re-opening, the hippodrome held a number of qualifying races in April, said Losev, stressing that it was important for horses to exercise.
"Horses cannot be idle -- they are not cars that can be parked in a garage," he said.
"Horses should work, they are athletes." Jockey Andrei Vilkin said he and his colleagues were trying to observe social distancing and wearing masks and gloves to protect themselves against the virus.
But he said the jockeys were not overly worried.
"This does not affect us so much because it's the horses that are running and not us, and they probably don't catch the coronavirus," Vilkin told AFP.
The first horse races were held in Moscow in 1834 and the hippodrome is one of the city's most distinctive landmarks.
Racetracks were the only places where gambling was permitted in the Soviet Union.
Some industry experts expect the equestrian sports to grow in popularity thanks to the lockdown.
During the sports shutdown, with Russian soccer's Premier League only set to resume action in late June, many gamblers have started betting on horses.
"They first started making simple bets, then more complex ones," said Sergei Pobochy, general director of the Horse Racing Sweepstakes Association.
"I think their numbers will grow."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From Sports
-
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
7 hours ago -
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
7 hours ago -
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
7 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
7 hours ago -
Bagnaia hits back with record Jerez practice lap
7 hours ago -
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
7 hours ago
-
Shahzaib Rind calls on Deputy Speaker Balochistan
8 hours ago -
Inter-university weightlifting championship kicks off at SAU
8 hours ago -
T20 World Cup 2024 Trophy unveiling ceremony held
8 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
10 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
10 hours ago -
New Zealand cricket CEO visits PSCA, expresses satisfaction over security arrangements
10 hours ago