Jockeys from the southern African kingdom of Lesotho on Saturday gathered with their mounts in the mountain village of Semonkong to compete on one of the continent’s highest racetracks.
Horse racing is a major social occasion in the mountainous nation of about 2 million people nestled inside South Africa.
“I can go fast, very fast,” 17-year-old Tsaeng Masotsa said before heading to the starting line.
Photo: AFP
At more than 2,200m above sea level, the high plateaus of Semonkong in central Lesotho play host to a nationally famous racetrack. Races are held here throughout the dry season from May to September with the most prestigious one marking King Letsi III’s birthday in July.
A few hundred people, mostly wrapped in bright traditional shepherd’s blankets, gathered on Saturday to watch dozens of riders square off under the pale sun.
“The news spread like wildfire from village to village,” said Jonathan Halse, 52, who runs a lodge in the area and is among the race’s sponsors.
Photo: AFP
Many things are still organized by word of mouth here.
The horse came to Lesotho with European settlers in the 19th century and the local Basotho pony is the result of crossbreeding over time. They are mid-sized and known for their endurance.
Locals use them to herd sheep and goats or for everyday transport. Some villages are accessible only on horseback.
“It’s an absolute necessity in everyday life. There are places where you can’t go otherwise,” said Motlatsi Manaka, a 45-year-old herder.
Before the races, the animals are brushed, their manes braided or trimmed. They have undergone months, or sometimes years of training.
Prizes can reach US$130 dollars — about the same amount as the average monthly salary. Gambling is rife with bundles of cash being passed among spectators seated on large stones.
Most horse owners are shepherds who make a living selling wool. The annual shearing season has just begun and shepherds receive about US$3 per kilogram of the fiber.
Jockeys get just a little more to ride and most of them are younger than 20.
The race is divided into several events, based on the age of the horses racing.
“My horse will be victorious, no adversary can resist him,” some riders chant, before launching their horses at breakneck speed on the curved course.
The dirt track, about 1km long, is enveloped in mist from the nearby Maletsunyane Falls, among the largest in Africa. Its finish line is marked by a pile of stones.
Yu Yao-hsing on Tuesday nabbed Taiwan’s only goal in the final round of qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, as they fell 3-1 to Sri Lanka at Taipei Municipal Stadium. Early goals from Sri Lanka in the first half left Taiwan struggling to get on the board, and Christopher Tiao’s own goal at 53 minutes sealed the team’s fate in the third round of qualifiers. While acknowledging that the defeat, Taiwan’s sixth in Group D, was disappointing, head coach Matt Ross said he saw reasons to stay positive about the team’s development. “There were lots of positive signs in terms of the
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli yesterday vowed to “keep raising the bar” after winning the Japanese Grand Prix to become the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the championship standings. The 19-year-old Italian took advantage of a mid-race safety car to jump into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position, crossing the line ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Antonelli’s Suzuka victory came two weeks after the first grand prix win of his career in China, and sent him top of the championship standings after three races, nine points ahead of team-mate George Russell. Mercedes are struggling to
INDIGESTION: Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time after a 4-1 defeat to Bosnia on penalties in a loss Gattuso said was ‘difficult to digest’ Coach Graham Arnold on Tuesday challenged his players to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico, as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) also secured their places at the finals. Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and are to play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway. Goals from Ali al-Hamadi
Teng Kai-wei, the only Taiwanese player on an opening-day roster in this year’s Major League Baseball (MLB) season, took his first win of the year with the Houston Astros in his season debut. Teng entered in relief in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, with the Astros trailing 5-0. He pitched 2-1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, as Houston scored 11 runs during his outing to snatch an 11-9 comeback victory. The win is the Astros’ first of the season and the third of Teng’s MLB career. “It’s my first time pitching for the Astros, so
RSS