Astana to Host National Equestrian Sports Festival

Astana, The Gulf Observer: The National Equestrian Sports Festival, dedicated to Kazakhstan’s Republic Day and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the country’s maslikhats (local representative bodies), will be held in Astana on October 11-12, the city akimat has confirmed.

Supported by the Akimat of Astana and the Federation of Equestrian Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the festival will feature traditional Kazakh equestrian events, including kokpar (a traditional game involving the fight for a goat’s carcass) and baige (horse racing).

The festivities will take place at the Qazanat Racecourse, with the baige competition scheduled to begin at 11:00 am on October 12. Competitors will vie for a prize purse of 20 million tenge.

The kokpar events will commence with qualifying rounds from 09:00 am to 05:00 pm on October 11, with the final rounds set to begin at 09:00 am on October 12. The total prize for the kokpar competition is 12 million tenge.

This festival marks an important celebration of Kazakhstan’s equestrian heritage, bringing together top competitors and showcasing the country’s national sports.