Information and Resource Guide to Camel Racing
Site IndexGeneral IntroductionInternational Camel Racing and Betting United Arab Emirates Australia Betting Camel Racing Information Training Process of Racing Camels Racing Camel Upkeep in the Gulf Region Breeds of Racing Camels in the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa Important Characteristics of Racing Camels General IntroductionCamel racing is a deep-rooted traditional sport that finds its origins in the desert culture of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East. Camels, commonly referred to as "ships of the desert," have for thousands of years played a vital role in the region, influencing every aspect of daily life. Beyond providing transportation, food, and shelter, the camel also served as a means of entertainment, celebration, and competition on festivals and special occasions. Races would take place at such events, which were generally more for show than competition. Competitive races would typically take place as a result of a challenge among camel owners, therefore requiring preparation that differed from the show races.For centuries, the desert way of life remained unchanging, which included the high socio-economic importance of the camel. With the oil boom, parts of the region transformed and many aspects of traditional life disappeared. The camel maintained its symbolic significance while technology replaced the practical need for the animal. With the advent of wealth, the affected nations were introduced to Western lifestyle, technology, and luxury. The force of such powerful changes caused the gradual disappearance of time-honored traditions and customs, which awakened a sense of urgency when people realized their proud and rich history was fading away. The importance of holding on to those traditions that characterized the spirit of the region was revived, which included camel racing. As a result, camel racing became a very popular pastime, developing into a much more formalized and professional form of racing which includes specialized breeding, intensive training programs, and technique. The rise of camel racing's popularity can be seen as well in other parts of the world where the race has also begun to draw in sizeable crowds of spectators and influential patrons. The sport continues to grow and develop, spreading and gaining recognition in regions where camels are not generally common. International Camel RacingUnited Arab EmiratesThe president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, endorses camel racing and provides financial support for citizens who are caretakers of camels. Camel races take place on an annual basis, mostly during the late October to early April racing season and periodically throughout the year. The races generally take place on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays throughout the winter season or on 5-day races held in the UAE's larger centers. Two races are the norm, with the morning race beginning at 7:30 AM and the afternoon race at 2:30 PM.The UAE has 15 racetracks across the country with spacious and well-kept stadiums for viewers. They are located on city outskirts, complete with rest tents, connecting roads, electricity, water, telephone lines, equipment for live television and radio broadcasts, a team of doctors, stand-by ambulances, and print transmission capabilities. Race distances vary between 4 to 10 kilometers and may include anywhere from 15 to 70 camels or more. The lifting of the large, multi-strand barrier signifies the beginning of the race. At the racetracks, dress is casual, admission is free, and many serve light beverages. Binoculars are suggested and it is important to note that cameras are not permitted at the racetracks. Camel racing is supported by the highest levels of UAE society, with President Zayed owning a personal stable consisting of 14,000 camels and 9,000 workers for their upkeep. Sheikh Mohammed, the Defense Minister of the UAE, owns 2,000 camels and maintains a reputation of his own for high performance on the racetracks. At the Nad al Sheba racetrack, the morning races consist primarily of camels owned by sheikhs, whereas the afternoon races are open to all. Sheikhs have been known to buy camels from owners who have won the afternoon races, offering large sums of money to acquire the victorious camel. Over the past 20 years, camel racing in the UAE gained more structure and prominence through increased interest in the sport and organization. Just in the 1990's, 12 new tracks were built to meet the rising widespread demand for camel racing. The sheiks of the UAE have invested large sums of money into the development of camel racing throughout the Emirates, in addition to putting cash into the buying and training of camels in order to participate themselves in the races. Their interest and dedication led to the First International Camel Conference, which drew specialists from all over with the primary goal of increasing racing camel performance. Currently, there are approximately 14,000 active racing camels in the UAE, which require large numbers of people to maintain them and keep them in top condition. Workers to tend the camels many times come from neighboring states such as Pakistan and Oman since the sport provides both indirect and direct financial support for thousands of people due to its popularity as a national pastime. Many trainers take their camels and race in other countries, such as Qatar, which have extended racing seasons beyond the UAE season. Camel jockeys in the past were young boys between the ages of 6 and 7, weighing approximately 20 kilograms so as not to weigh down the camel. This became an international issue in addition to the trafficking of child jockeys from different countries for the race. To fight the problem, the UAE government issued a ban on child jockeys who are less than 15 years of age and weigh less than 45 kilos. Camel jockeys must carry with them government issued identification cards, which can be acquired after passing examinations by specially appointed doctors to ensure that the child is of racing age and has not been taken from a foreign country by owners claiming to be parents. Betting on the races is illegal in the UAE, but winners receive many different prizes, many times in the form of luxury cars. Very successful racing camels are worth millions of dollars and the most coveted prize is winning the King's Cup in Dubai. AustraliaCamel racing in Australia began as a result of large imports of camels that began in the 1840's and continued until the early 1900's for the main purpose of providing transportation across the continent. With advancements in technology, camels lost their relative value and many were released or escaped, eventually forming the largest wild camel population in the world estimated at around 200,000 camels.The camel racing industry in Australia began as more of a tourist attraction rather than a professional sport and has been successful the past thirty years in doing just that. Events such as the Alice Springs Camel Cup have steadily brought in larger and larger crowds of spectators to their racetracks and the idea of camel racing has spread throughout the continent. The year 1990 brought several developments in the sport through contacts with the UAE camel racing industry. Races in Australia were originally quarter mile events and therefore the camels were not capable of participating in international races that were much more arduous. Camel owners witnessed the increasingly profitable camel racing industry in the UAE and realized that in order to achieve similar profits, it was necessary to revolutionize the industry. The expansive feral camel population in Australia offered the chance to transform camel racing in the country to a lucrative international business by formalizing and reorganizing the sport, in addition to developing more advanced training programs that mirrored those in Middle Eastern countries. Since the transformation, the popularity of camel racing has grown exponentially as well as the prize money offered. Commercial sponsors have gotten involved and helped publicize the sport to the public. Major races include Alice Springs and Boulia Desert Sands. The races are promoted by several camel racing associations and are geographically dispersed throughout the continent with a separate racing circuit in Queensland. Betting on the races is generally allowed by the government in Australia because of the institution of a microchip identification system, which guarantees the identity of the animal. The system allows for better regulation and therefore legal betting can take place. In Australian camel racing, jockeys are mostly women and less emphasis is placed on weight an age in contrast to professional camel racing countries such as the UAE. Australian camels are also much slower than Arabian camels due to genetic differences and a general lack of specified breeding programs. Only recently, Australian camel racing organizations have been advancing in the direction of selective breeding and the use of DNA studies. The associations tied to camel racing have different stances on race rules and procedures, which makes the prospect of governmental and nationwide established standards not very likely. Differences between the associations include issues such as whether or not the races should be on grassy surfaces or sand, near major centers or in the outback. In any case, the camels have not yet reached levels where they can effectively compete in Arabian camel races. As mentioned earlier, camel racing in Australia takes place on much shorter racetracks. Studies have shown that the speed Australian camels can reach in these quarter mile races is very high, but Arabian camels can maintain a fairly high speed for extended distances. The UAE government supports Australian camel racing and invites racing enthusiasts to observe UAE techniques. Trainers are working on developing the Australian camel's ability to race on lengthy tracks to compete in other camel races around the world. Betting in the UAE and AustraliaFor the camel racing enthusiast, it is very important to be aware that Australia permits betting on the races, whereas the UAE does not.Australia betting on camel racing can also be done through online wagering services in addition to standard betting procedures. Online betting is very secure due to high-level encryption devices. Races can be viewed through media or live. Betting is only allowed on camels with microchip identification to ensure the legality of the betting process. In Australia, it is generally advised to bet on the favorite camel at the races. Camels can be very unpredictable, which in many cases is a direct result of the quality of training they’ve received. Caution is advised and researching the competitors before hand is recommended. Camel Racing InformationTraining Process of Racing CamelsCamel training programs for racing purposes differ depending on the region and environment. Camels begin training when they are approximately 13 months old until they reach the age of 3 and begin racing. For the purpose of this site, Gulf region training techniques will be focused on.Obedience Training At the age of 13 to 16 months, the camel is taken from its mother and attached by rope to an older camel to act as a steadying companion to the young camel throughout the short training period of 1 to 3 months. The training involves learning to wear the 'al khidham' rope that is tied around the camel's head to control its movements and the 'al shidad' saddle, which is a soft, blanket saddle. Already at this stage, trainers accustom their camels to having a young rider on their backs and take them to run on the racetrack. Fitness Training The program begins in early July for weaker camels and the stronger ones being in late August. The camels are taken out for 20-kilometer walks in the desert in the early mornings and are brought back before midday. They are fed, watered, and allowed to rest in the shade until their 3 PM water and snack. In October, the walking distance is changed and increased to 40-kilometers and the camels receive food during their outing. Between 4 - 6 PM, they return and receive their evening meal. The purpose-oriented daily walking is aimed at reducing the camel's fat, increasing fitness, and making the camel more trim. Running Training The camel's running training program begins in early November. Intense training takes place on the major racetracks, coinciding with the preliminary races of the season that last until the end of January. At the end of the racing sessions, running practice takes place on the tracks with 5 to 10 camels starting together at a time to prevent injuries. Running distances are decided by each trainer on an individual basis according to the type of races each camel is being trained for. This way, the camel adjusts to running over specific distances. The food diet during this period changes to become very nutritious and rich foods, such as barley, dates, goat's milk, and honey in order to compensate for the greater energy output of the camel. Two months before the race, camels that are seen to have the greatest potential for winning also receive greater medical attention in terms of more frequent checkups and better healthcare against dirt, pests, and weather elements. Stomach Purging Two days before the race, the camel's stomach is purged. After this has been done, the camels are covered with special blankets and are taken to be washed. Water and a light meal are fed to them before being covered again and having a special hood placed over their mouths to prevent further food consumption. The next day is then spent resting and fasting until the time of the race. Racing Camel Upkeep in the Gulf RegionWith advancements in the racing camel industry, there have also been improvements in the feeding and management programs designed to produce the best possible racing results from the animals. Nutritional specialists have been brought in from all over the world to run the camel feed mills to create well-balanced and highly nutritional diets. High fiber diets, including oats and barley in addition to vitamin supplements and trace elements, are standard for racing camels.The Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai has played a major role in promoting the camel health care in the region. Camels undergo check-ups at the clinic which have been successful in combating common camel diseases as well as conducting experiments with breeding techniques to produce faster camels. Improvements in healthcare technology have already succeeded in improving race times. The complexities behind camel care have led to a very organized camel maintenance hierarchy. At the top, the owners employ nutritionists, feeders, jockeys, drivers, grooms, cleaners, shepherds, and trainers. Above all is the Camel Racing Association (CRA), which provides the general organization of the races to include preparation, equipment, scheduling, selection of referees, prizes, and press coverage. Owners spend between RO 200 and RO 400 every month during the race season on camel upkeep and essentials. Their caretakers meticulously watch over the camels to ensure that they remain in prime condition. A typical racing camel owner would make sure that his camels are kept clean by having them washed and scrubbed twice a week in addition to having any bruises cared for by using expensive healing ointments to keep them healthy. Warm blankets and sheets are also used to cover the camels at night to keep them from the cold. Mouth guards are used to prevent the camels from feeding on normal desert vegetation instead of their specially designed nutritional diet. Camels undergo periodic stomach purges to keep them in top condition. Breeds of Racing Camels in the Arabian Peninsula and East AfricaThe Bedouin of the Arabian Peninsula have bred fast camels for thousands of years, but their main goal was to use the lean and fast camels for raiding and defense purposes rather than racing sport. Today, racing camels in the Arabian Peninsula are divided into three categories according to physical characteristics. This has been done to aid in the organization and fairness of the races which are separated according to breed, since each breed of camel has different physical traits and abilities. They are divided as follows:
Bint Dhabyan, Al Wariya, Toug, Al Khamriyah, Mehna, Al Shatotiya, Al Shamtiya, Alia, Al Mesk, Al Tayyara, Laghzaila, Elhke, Dbais, Tafra, Zaafarana, and Shola East AfricaIn East Africa, there are 3 types of racing camels:
Important Characteristics of Racing CamelsThe most successful racing camels have the right features necessary for giving them the advantage in the racing world. In addition to their build, it is very important for racing camels to have feet and legs structured in a way to allow them optimal balance and speed.Feet It is important for the feet of a racing camel to be small enough to allow for agility and quickness, but large enough to support and balance its weight, particularly when the camel reaches faster speeds. The front feet should be as straight as possible, and the rear feet are better if they are slightly turned outwards. Horny and tough soles are considered ideal, even if they are slightly worn down, due to the added protection they give the camel from hot sand and rocks. This can be identified also by the unevenness of their nails. Front Legs The front legs should be close together, straight, and long. Well muscled elbows that are away from the chest pad are ideal. Rear Legs The rear legs should also be straight and long rather than bow-legged. They should muscular as well as the loins area. Thighs The thighs of the camel should be thick, full, broad, and muscular. Forearms/Knee Joints/Hocks Muscular forearms, heavy knee joints, and moderately straight, closely set hocks. Cannon Bone The cannon bone should be flat and clean. Overall Build The overall build of the racing camel should be long-legged, slender, with a strong bone structure. |