Horses race across a desert track in the Abu Ghar area south of Suq al-Shuyukh, Thi Qar governorate, as spectators follow alongside in pickup trucks during the annual horse racing festival organized by the Suq al-Shuyukh Knights Association on Jan. 2, 2026. Photo by 964media.
Thoroughbreds from six governorates race in annual Dhi Qar festival
DHI QAR — More than 70 thoroughbred horses competed Friday in the annual horse racing festival organized by the Suq al-Shuyukh Knights Association in the Abu Ghar area south of Dhi Qar governorate.
The event, held Jan. 2, drew horse associations from several governorates and featured multiple heats on a track that reached up to 5 kilometers in some rounds. Organizers allowed a 964media correspondent to follow the races by pickup truck, capturing close-up scenes of competition featuring horses named “Dohan,” “Borkan” and “Muraib,” among others. All participating horses underwent medical checks and electronic chip verification in line with international standards.
Associations from Najaf, Maysan, Muthanna, Wasit and Basra took part, alongside local groups from Shatra, Gharraf and Batta, including Beit al-Milla Academy and Nashmi Stud.
Veterinarians and technical staff were present to examine horses and read electronic chips. Veterinarian Ibrahim Abbas told 964media his team’s primary role was “examining horses to identify sick ones and isolate them from participation, and granting approvals to healthy horses.”
Yahya Talib, known as Abu Abbas and head of the Suq al-Shuyukh Knights Association, said the festival is now in its seventh year and follows a set of medical and technical procedures. “The festival is being held for the seventh year and includes several segments, starting with examining horses by a medical team from the Dhi Qar Veterinary Directorate, where horses are brought in to check the chip, measurements and age to ensure their eligibility for race heats,” he said.
Abbas said adult horses competed in long-distance races while foals ran shorter distances, adding that the starting procedures for imported horses differ from those used for local Arabian horses. The first heat covered 5 kilometers for local horses, the second 3 kilometers for horses carrying electronic chips and the third 2.5 kilometers for foals.
Maysan governorate led the local horses category, with rider Majid Sharif taking first place. He told 964media he has spent five years training for such competitions and previously won first place, adding that he completed the 5-kilometer race with his horse “Dohan.”
In the foals category, Abbas Hussein al-Kaabi won first place with a filly named “Reem” after traveling from Badra district in Wasit governorate to participate. The organizing committee said the local horses category was rounded out by Hussein Ali of Maysan in second place with the horse “Rimah” and Hussein Mousa of Wasit in third with “Borkan,” while Mahdi Osama of Basra governorate placed second in the foals category with “Muraib.”