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What is Camel Racing ?
As the name suggests, camel racing
is a sport where the camels run with a speed of almost 40 miles
per hour over a predetermined track. This is an extremely
popular sport in the Arab States as well as Australia. This is
somewhat similar to the popular horse racing that is usually
performed to attract tourists and indulge in betting.
The origin of camel racing
The history of this popular sport can be traced back to the 7th
century AD or the early Islamic period. Not all breeds of camels
can be used for this purpose – dromedary or the one-humped camel
that is usually found in the hot deserts of northern Africa and
southwestern Asia, are preferred for the game. The term
‘dromedary’ comes from the Greek word ‘dramein’, a verb, that
signifies ‘to run’. Dromedaries originally belonged to the
Arabian Peninsula where this practice of camel racing was
started by the local population at the various social events,
gatherings and festivals.
Camel racing outside the Arabian
countries
As mentioned earlier, this is a popular game even in Australia.
In fact a major camel race called the Camel Cup is organized at
Alice Springs every year. Besides camel racing, this race also
includes various other forms of entertainment and displays a
wide range of market stalls.
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How are
the camels trained for the race?
The training program for the racing camels differ from one
region to another. The process starts when the animals are
little more than a year old and continues till they are
approximately three. Post three years, the camels can enter in
to the race. To enlighten you about the various processes
involved, I will discuss the techniques followed in the Gulf
region.
The obedience training
The obedience training starts when the camel is little over a
year old, approximately, from 13th month to 16th month. At this
time, the camel is detached from its mother and attached to an
older camel that acts as its companion throughout a period of 1
to 3 months. The training process includes learning to wear the
traditional rope tied around the camel’s head, called ‘al
khidham’ and using the soft blanket saddle called the ‘al shidad’.
At this stage the trainers also get their camels used to having
the young ‘jockeys’ at their back and run on the track. |
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The
fitness training
In the fitness training process, the camels are taken out for a
long walk, 20 kilometers, in the desert in the early morning and
brought back before noon or midday. Then they are cleaned, given
food and allowed to rest till about 3 in the afternoon, time for
their afternoon snack and water. For the camels which are
relatively weak, the program starts during the first half of
July; for the ones which are strong, the training begins around
the later half of August. This process continues till October,
after which the distance is increased from 20 km to 40 km. The
aim of this long walk is to make the animals lean, trim and
strong. Food is provided during the outing and the evening meal
is fed between 4 to 6 in the evening when they are back from
their daily routine.
The running training
When the camel is well trained, is fit enough and obeys its
master, the next stage of training process commences. This
involves training the camel to run on tracks; this starts around
the first half of November and continues till the end of
January. This is a rigorous training process where the camels
run on the major race courses. After the racing sessions, a
group of about 8 to 10 camels are made to run on predetermined
tracks at a time to prevent any injuries. Usually the trainers
decide the distances that need to be covered on an individual
basis according to the type of races that each animal has been
trained for. The intention is to help the camel to get adjusted
to running over a particular distance.
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One thing that is very important at
this stage is the diet of the animals. The camels are provided
with very rich and nutritious diet that includes barley, dates,
goat’s milk and honey so that not only the camel becomes healthy
but also compensates for the huge amount of energy loss during
the training.
Giving the right kind of medical attention is also very
important. The animal that is the best among the lot and is
considered as the prospective winner gets the maximum amount of
medical attention like frequent check ups and a better
healthcare routine involving protection against dust and dirt,
pests and insects and other weather conditions. The medical
attention starts approximately two months before the big day.
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Purging,
cleaning or flushing of the stomach
After the end of all the training sessions, just a couple of
days before the race, the camel’s stomach is flushed and
cleaned. Once the process is over the animals are covered with
some special blankets and given a good wash. They are then
provided with water and some light and nutritious food after
which they are covered again and their mouths are closed with a
special hood so that they cannot indulge in any kind of food
consumption. The camel is then allowed to rest for the whole of
the next day without any food until the race begins.
What are
the essential characteristics of these camels?
Some of the most important characteristics include:
Feet – The feet of the camel
must be small enough so that they are quick and fast and also
large enough to support and balance their own weight when they
are running at very high speeds. The two feet in front should be
straight and the ones at the back should slightly turned
outwards. Ideally, the soles of the feet should be tough and
horny, so that they can be protected from the heat of the sand
and unevenness of the rocks.
Thighs – The thighs should
be broad, full, thick and muscular.
The forearms and knee joints – The camel must have thoroughly
muscular forearms, heavy knee joints and fairly straight and
closely set hocks.
The cannon bone – The cannon
bone must be clean and fat.
The total body built-up – As
a whole, the camel must be slender with long legs and a strong
bone structure.
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Article Contributed By: Sukanya
Banerjee
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