CELEBRATION EVENTS ARE HELD IN INTERNATIONAL AKHALTEKE EQUESTRIAN COMPLEX

Today, International Akhalteke Equestrian Center hosted celebrations in honor of the 29th anniversary of the independence of Turkmenistan, in which President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has participated.

Horse racing is one of the favourite holiday traditions of the Turkmen people. It continues to this day owing to the continuity of generations and careful attitude of descendants to the heritage of their ancestors. Today this exciting action takes place, of course, in completely different conditions than it was in the old days.

The magnificent equestrian complexes erected in all regions of the country make it possible to conduct hippodrome tests of fast horses at the highest professional level and, in addition to the sports component, it always becomes a more voluminous event in terms of content, an impressive spectacle in terms of saturation with the flavour of national culture.

From the early morning, an atmosphere of emotional uplift reigned at the International Ahalteke Equestrian Complex in the foothills of the Kopetdag, Members of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of the Mejlis, military and law enforcement agencies, ministries and departments, the head of Ashgabat administration, representatives of public organizations and media, elders and youth have gathered here.

The territory of the complex is decorated with State flags, garlands of colourful balloons and ribbons, along the alleys there are exhibitions of decorative and applied arts.

… The vehicle of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov arrives in International Equestrian Centre. The Head of State was greeted by the audience with applause.

On the way, the Turkmen leader observes a song and dance composition performed by creative groups and looks around colourful expositions. Bright carpets and silks, samples of national clothes, patterned embroidery, jewellery and decorations for horses, musical instruments, woodcarving, painted ceramics, traditional dishes and other products of artistic handicrafts demonstrate the original Turkmen culture.

The Turkmen leader enters the building of the equestrian complex, proceeding to the presidential lounge.

On behalf of the Turkmen people, the presenter expresses the words of gratitude to the Head of State for his multifaceted work in the name of the country's prosperity and congratulates the President and all those present in the spectator stands on the 29th anniversary of independence.

Then the festive races started. Ahalteke horses demonstrated their speed and agility at various distances in 7 races. A prize was established in each of them - 6 prizes of 15 thousand US dollars from various spheres of the national economic complex and the most important - the President's prize of 30 thousand dollars. Therefore, total prize fund was 120 thousand dollars for 84 applicants, 12 in each nomination, among which the victory would choose only one.

Three-year-old horses were participating in first race. Karakum from Ahalteke equestrian complex of the President of Turkmenistan ridden by N. Agamyradov was the first one to finish. He covered the distance of 1600 meters in 1 minute 48 seconds.

The distance of the second race was also 1600 meters. Here, Gyrbedev, owned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, ridden by D. Berdimamedov, was the best horse. It covered the distance in 1 minute 42.2 seconds.

In the third race, the horses competed at a distance of 1800 meters. Bezirgen, ridden by B. Babayev, from the Ahalteke equestrian complex of the President of Turkmenistan was the first to finish. The horse showed a time of 2 minutes 02.6 seconds at this distance. The distance of the fourth race, in which, as in the first two, three-year-old horses participated, was 2200 meters. The horse Dorhan from the Equestrian Federation finished first, having covered the distance with jockey R. Abdyev in 2 minutes 27.1 seconds.

In the fifth race (distance 2200 meters) with the participation of four-year-old horses and older, the first three were horses from the Ahalteke equestrian complex of the President of Turkmenistan. The horse Goshasakar came first with a result of 2 minutes 30.7 seconds. The horse was ridden by N. Annamyradov.

The sixth race (distance 2400 meters) was attended by four-year-old horses and older. The first place in this competition was taken by a horse named Syrdashym from the Ministry of Justice. It covered the distance in 2 minutes 38.3 seconds. The horse was ridden by jockey B. Berkeliyev.

The distance of the final race, which was attended by four-year-old horses and older, was 2,400 meters. In these competitions, the struggle was for the main prize announced by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in honour of the 29th anniversary of the country's independence. In a tense and exciting competition, the horse Dorgunan was the first. The horse, driven by master jockey B. Agamyradov, showed a time of 2 minutes 49 seconds.

Following the races, an award ceremony was held for the winners, who were awarded with prizes including on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Upon completion of the festive races at the International Ahalteke Equestrian Complex, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, having warmly said goodbye to everyone, left the place of event.