Turkmen President Attends Equestrian Festivities Marking 35th Independence Anniversary

Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Monday attended festive events at the Ashgabat Equestrian Sports Complex to mark the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Independence, according to the country’s official media.

The celebrations opened with a concert featuring performers from Turkmenistan’s five provinces, as well as Ashgabat and the city of Arkadag. An exhibition of traditional applied arts was also organized as part of the festivities.

The programme featured seven horse races for horses aged over two years, held over distances ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 metres. During the various stages of the competition, horses named Nazli, Ayyldyz, Bendesen, Gönübeg, Maksatly and Gudratlydag took the lead.

The owners of the winning horses in the respective races were presented with cash prizes of 100,000 manats each from the country’s relevant sectoral agencies.

The highlight of the competition was the final 2,200-metre race, in which Bezirgen, a horse from the Ahalteke Equestrian Complex of the President of Turkmenistan, finished first.

Bezirgen was trained by jockey Maksatmyrat Agamyradov and ridden by Begenchmyrat Agamyradov. The winning horse was awarded the President of Turkmenistan’s Challenge Cup, along with a cash prize of 300,000 manats on behalf of the Head of State.

A wide range of celebrations and cultural events are being held across Ashgabat, Arkadag and the provinces of Turkmenistan to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the country’s Independence.