Latest news with #MongolDerby
Gulf Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Two UAE endurance riders make history in 1000 km 'Mongol Derby'
Two UAE endurance riders Sheikh Khalifa Al Hamed and Issa Al Khiyari concluded their historic participation in the 'Mongol Derby' endurance race by tying for first place with American rider Michael Pollard and British rider Anna Boden. The world's greatest equine adventure race, covering a distance of 1,000 km, was held over eight days from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., making it the longest in the world for this distance. It began on August 4 and will culminate with the awards ceremony on Wednesday. Sheikh Khalifa Al Hamed stated that reaching the finish line with his fellow rider Issa Al Khiyari was an achievement in itself, given the extremely challenging conditions and great obstacles. These included varied terrains, mountain passes, green valleys, rolling hills, plains, sand dunes, and riverbeds. He explained that they were determined to continue the race until the end to demonstrate the capabilities of Emiratis in facing challenges, and not to withdraw from such a difficult competition despite the circumstances during the race. Meanwhile, dozens of riders withdrew at various stages due to exhaustion and difficulties in handling the Mongolian horses, with the rest of the participants failing to reach the finish line after eight days. Sheikh Khalifa Al Hamed revealed that the daunting challenge they faced was handling the unfamiliar Mongolian horses—unlike other races where the rider competes with their own horse. In addition, staying on horseback for about 12 hours a day made simply reaching the finish line a major accomplishment in their first-ever participation. The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race and world's longest horse race. It extends 1,000 kilometres through the Mongolian Steppe.
Sharjah 24
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
UAE riders make history in the Mongol Derby
The world's longest horse race Dubbed the world's greatest equine adventure, the Mongol Derby spans 1,000 kilometers across the rugged terrain of the Mongolian Steppe. Held from August 4 to August 11, the race ran daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. over eight consecutive days, testing the limits of both riders and horses. Overcoming harsh conditions Sheikh Khalifa Al Hamed described the experience as a true test of endurance, facing mountain passes, valleys, sand dunes, plains, and riverbeds. Dozens of riders withdrew due to extreme exhaustion and difficulties handling unfamiliar Mongolian horses, which posed a unique challenge as participants could not ride their own horses. A triumph of Emirati determination Reaching the finish line alongside his compatriot, Al Hamed emphasized that completing the race was a major achievement for Emirati riders, especially in their first-ever participation. Riding for 12 hours daily, they persevered through physical and mental challenges to prove the strength and resilience of UAE endurance athletes. The Mongol Derby's global prestige Recognized as the world's longest horse race, the Mongol Derby traces the route of Genghis Khan's historic postal system across Mongolia. It is considered one of the toughest and most prestigious endurance events in equestrian sports.
Al Etihad
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Two UAE endurance riders make history in 1000 km Mongol Derby
11 Aug 2025 20:10 ULAANBAATAR (WAM)Two UAE endurance riders Sheikh Khalifa Al Hamed and Issa Al Khiyari concluded their historic participation in the Mongol Derby endurance race by tying for first place with American rider Michael Pollard and British rider Anna world's greatest equine adventure race, covering a distance of 1,000 km, was held over eight days from 7:00am to 7:00pm, making it the longest in the world for this distance. It began on August 4 and will culminate with the awards ceremony on Khalifa Al Hamed stated that reaching the finish line with his fellow rider Issa Al Khiyari was an achievement in itself, given the extremely challenging conditions and great obstacles. These included varied terrains, mountain passes, green valleys, rolling hills, plains, sand dunes, and explained that they were determined to continue the race until the end to demonstrate the capabilities of Emiratis in facing challenges, and not to withdraw from such a difficult competition despite the circumstances during the dozens of riders withdrew at various stages due to exhaustion and difficulties in handling the Mongolian horses, with the rest of the participants failing to reach the finish line after eight Khalifa Al Hamed revealed that the daunting challenge they faced was handling the unfamiliar Mongolian horses—unlike other races where the rider competes with their own horse. In addition, staying on horseback for about 12 hours a day made simply reaching the finish line a major accomplishment in their first-ever participation. The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race and world's longest horse race. It extends 1,000 kilometres through the Mongolian Steppe.
West Australian
02-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
One of WA's toughest horses Filthy Habits looks to continue supreme form in Ascot's Rogan Josh Stakes
Arguably one of WA's toughest gallopers Filthy Habits will line up a hot $1.75 TABtouch favourite for Saturday's $100,000 Rogan Josh Stakes (2100m) at Ascot after his last-start Albany Cup demolition. In his favourite role of pace-maker at Albany, Filthy Habits romped home to score by almost five lengths and took his earnings to near $500,000. Trainer Brandon Fiore, husband of rider Lucy Fiore, said the pair were delighted by the ease with which the five-year-old won. 'It was a really easy watch. Typically, he doesn't make it too easy, so it was nice when he was coming down the home straight,' he told TABradio. 'It was awesome to see him put away the field like that. (Lucy) was a bit shocked. He was just hands and heels and responded really well. 'She said he felt so fresh and plenty fit enough. He's recovered really well and his weight's good. His last bit of work, his heart rate and his recovery were pretty much identical to last start.' Renowned for his appetite for a rigorous racing schedule, Fiore said they had eased the bay's workload which had seen him go to another level. 'He's still on the fresher side and we're probably learning a bit more about him now,' he said. 'We're trying not to overwork him and let him do his thing and leave a bit more speed in him instead of trying to make him stay.' Filthy Habits will meet second favourite and fellow front-runner Iowa ($3.20) with a two kilo weight advantage, carrying 54.5kg to Iowa's 56.5kg. 'I think he'll be pretty hard to beat. Iowa, his runs have been really good, so he's always a good chance,' Fiore said. 'We have met before and (Iowa) has beaten him, although I think Filthy Habits is going better now. They'll be both out in front for a long way. 'After tomorrow, he'll go out for a spell. He might come back for a trial, then go out for a spell again while (Lucy and I) are in Mongolia. Then we'll aim him for the Perth Cup and the lead-up races for that.' In August, Brandon and Lucy Fiore will tackle the Mongol Derby, a 1000km race through the countryside on semi-wild horses who are changed over every 35km. + Statuario leads the market for the $1 million South Australian Derby (2500m) after a comprehensive two-and-a-quarter length win at Caulfield a month ago. The $3 grey gelding rates clearly on top in betting from American Wolf ($8), a VRC St Leger winner at Flemington last weekend. Lavalier ($8) was a half length behind Athanatos in the Chairmans at Morphettville last start, while Cranbourne winner Global Eclipse ($9.50) and last year's Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru ($11) are next in line.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Despite injury, Triad man competes in ‘Mongol Derby'
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — A century or so ago, it wasn't uncommon for a man to spend much of his life on a horse. Today, it's very rare. But then, Fred Berry has always been a little different. Berry is an attorney who grew up in Greensboro and didn't venture far from home for many years, attending Wake Forest University for both his undergraduate and law degrees and has practiced in the Triad since, but he's seen the world in the years since in ways most of us never will and it goes back to his younger days. 'For 35 years, I was the Huntsman for the Sedgefield Hunt Club,' he says, who first started riding when he was about 10 years old. 'And what that means is twice a week, my wife and I would load up a pack of fox hounds and a couple of thoroughbred-type horses and go to the woods and gallop around. And so that gave me the panache, if it were, to be able to ride cross country.' That chance came when he learned about The Mongol Derby, which bills itself as the world's longest and most difficult horse race. 'It's 10 days of racing for about 12 hours a day and you pick a horse randomly off the horse line, and then if the herder can ride it, then you get on it and you ride about 25 miles to the next horse station, then you swap out and do it again and do it again and do it again,' says Berry about how the race is run. But a few weeks before the race, Berry was out riding (and he happened to be on his wife's horse) when the horse bucked him seriously damaging his shoulder, which put him in a very difficult position. 'I was faced with do I go ahead and race with a bum shoulder or do I lay off a year and heal and be able to race fully equipped?' He ran but it was almost impossible to compete in that condition. But, in the end, it was a trip that was worth his time and effort, though it makes a reporter wonder why a guy would travel to the other side of the world for such a difficult challenge. 'It just spoke to me,' he says. 'I've spent a lot of time in the west riding cross country, have been in California riding big, big, open land and being on a horse and being in big country is a nice thing to do for me.' See more of Fred's journey to the Mongol Derby in this edition of The Buckley Report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
