Turkmen President Attends Festive Horse Races at Ashgabat Equestrian Complex

Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Monday attended festivities held at the Ashgabat Equestrian Sports Complex to mark the 35th anniversary of the country’s Independence, Turkmenistan’s official media reported.

The festivities began with a concert featuring artists from the country’s five provinces, Ashgabat and Arkadag, along with an exhibition of applied arts.

Seven horse races for horses over 2 years old were held over distances ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 meters, according to the race program. In different stages of the races, horses named Nazli, Ayyldyz, Bendesen, Gönübeg, Maksatly and Gudratlydag took the lead. Their owners received cash prizes of 100,000 manats from the country’s sectoral agencies.

The main event of the races was the final 2,200-meter race. Bezirgen, a horse belonging to the President of Turkmenistan’s Ahalteke Equestrian Complex, crossed the finish line first. Bezirgen was trained by jockey Maksatmyrat Agamyradov and ridden by Begenchmyrat Agamyradov. The winner received the President of Turkmenistan’s Challenge Cup and a cash prize of 300,000 manats on behalf of the Head of state.

Large-scale events are being held in Ashgabat, Arkadag and the country’s provinces to mark the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Independence.