West African Horse Racing Derby Kicks Off in Kaduna

The West African Horse Racing Derby began in Kaduna on Wednesday, with Darrasalam emerging as the winner of the opening race, which featured ten horses. Laila finished second, while Azan secured third place.

Mustafa Abubakar Bida, the coordinator of the Horse Race Federation of Nigeria (HRFN), described the opening day as a success and expressed expectations for a larger turnout, particularly on Saturday when the President is expected to attend. The federation is taking steps to tackle horse doping, which has been a significant issue in the sport, and is working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Sports Commission to strengthen anti-doping measures.

The derby, which will last for three days, aims to attract horse owners and jockeys from Nigeria and neighboring West African countries, emphasizing the theme "Renew Hope" to reflect the belief in the power of sports to promote economic growth, tourism, and youth development in Nigeria.