Camel racing

Camel racing is a popular pastime and sport in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Jordan, Dubai, Egypt, Australia, and several other countries. It is a multi-million-dollar business, with camel owners often spending tens of thousands of dollars for a camel and its care. Prize-winning camels may be sold for millions of dollars.

Camel racing originated with the Bedouin tribes in the Middle East as a simple fun pastime. It became a big business when wealthy Arab leaders took it up in the latter part of the twentieth century. The sport was the subject of some controversy in the early part of the twentieth century when it came to light that the young children used as jockeys were sometimes abducted and mistreated. A change to robotic jockeys restored the sport to popularity; some hope to expand the pastime to Europe and other areas.

Background

Camels are large mammals that are classified as two main types: dromedary camels with one hump and Bactrian or Asian camels with two humps. The camels most often used for competitive camel racing are dromedaries, which grow to a height of about 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder (about 2 meters) and about 10 feet (3 meters) in length. A full-grown camel can weigh between 1,320 pounds and 2,200 pounds (about 600 to 1,000 kilograms).

The camel's hump contains stored fat, which enables the camel to survive long periods without food and water. Camels can drink as much as 30 gallons (113 liters) of water in less than a quarter of an hour when it's available. They can survive as long as six months without food and water.

The camels used for contemporary racing do not have to worry about going without food and water, however. The large investment made by camel owners means that racing camels are well fed. The bulk of their diet comes from barley, but racing camels are sometimes fed delicacies such as honey and dates to help their performance.

Camels were once an essential part of the life of the nomadic people of the Middle East. They were known as the ships of the desert and carried people and all their belongings across the sand. The camel was used in many other ways as well. Its milk and meat provided owners with nourishment, its hair was woven into cloth, and its skin was tanned to be used as leather for shoes and other necessities. Its excrement served as fuel and its urine was used as medicine.

In addition to the many practical uses for camels, desert nomads also used them for entertainment by racing them. Camels are not fast like racehorses. Instead, camel races are often more about endurance than short bursts of speed. For many years, camel racing was a fun activity among family and friends. The events involved a great deal of pride and were eagerly anticipated.

In the 1960s, however, more roads began to cut through the desert areas where camels had been the main form of transportation for so long. As cars and buses became viable means of transportation, fewer people kept camels. The proliferation of vehicles meant that instead of having to move in search of water and food, the nomadic livestock herders could stay in one place and have what they needed brought to them. Fearing that camel racing might die out, Arab leaders took steps to preserve the ancient sport.

Overview

Contemporary camel racing had its start in the 1960s. Sheik Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz encouraged camel racing to promote the animal's role in Saudi Arabia's heritage. He established the first significant organized camel race in 1964. When the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was formed in 1971, camel racing was seen as something that could unify the people as a shared activity. It was encouraged and promoted in that area as well. The first dedicated camel racing track was made in the UAE in the 1980s and was about 5 miles (8 km) in length.

Soon camel races were held regularly during a three-month winter season. Although the sport was very popular, spectators faced some difficulties. The amount of sand kicked up by races makes it difficult to watch events from nearby. The length of the races also made it difficult for spectators to see the entire race. As a result, newer tracks include a road for cars that follow the entire length of the race. This allows a truck equipped with a camera to follow the racers and film the race for broadcast. Many races are televised during the morning hours before the sun and temperature become too hot for racing. The majority of spectators watch races on television.

Many countries where camel racing is popular are Muslim countries that do not allow gambling. For this reason betting on races is usually not permitted, but the owners do receive prize money. In larger races, prize purses may be worth millions of dollars.

As camel racing became more popular from the 1970s through 1990s, camel owners looked for ways to gain an advantage. Some owners began using children as jockeys. The child jockeys were as young as two or three years old and were extremely small and light. During the 1990s, however, reports revealed that many of these young children were kidnapped. They were often underfed to keep their weight down and sometimes abused and sexually assaulted. As a result, the practice of using child jockeys was outlawed in some countries in 2002. Jockeys are usually at least eleven years old.

Contemporary racing camels are often ridden by small robotic jockeys. These devices may be made from a rechargeable drill attached to a small plastic and cloth whip to help spur the camel on. The device is usually covered in colorful fabric similar to clothing that jockeys wear, which are called silks, and equipped with a walkie-talkie. The camel's owner rides in a car alongside the track and calls out instructions to the camel, activating the whip with the type of remote used to unlock car doors.

This new version of the sport has become immensely popular. Many people spend upwards of $55,000 to buy racing camels and spend hundreds of dollars each month to care for them. Some feel the sport could expand into Europe.

Bibliography

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