President of Turkmenistan Attends Festive Horse Races in Ashgabat
On September 28, the Ashgabat Equestrian Complex hosted celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence. The highlight of the event, attended by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was the traditional horse race—a vivid demonstration of the continuity of horse-breeding traditions and the unbreakable link between eras.
The motto for 2026—"Independent Neutral Turkmenistan: Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses"—is embodied in the triumphant progress of Akhal-Teke horses on the international stage. Over the past season, Turkmen horsemen and these "heavenly" steeds have once again captivated the world: from joint events at the World Championship in Windsor, UK, and the triumphant tour of the "Galkynysh" National Equestrian Games Group in Baku, to brilliant victories at the "Pearl of the East" tournament in Tashkent and international competitions in Kazan, where our riders secured the prestigious titles of "Asian Champion" and "World Champion."
A solid legislative foundation for further enhancing the breed's global renown has been established through the Law of Turkmenistan "On the State Protection of Akhal-Teke Horses in Turkmenistan," adopted at a session of the Khalk Maslakhaty and signed by the Head of State.
The morning at the equestrian complex greeted guests with a festive, celebratory atmosphere. Along the route taken by the Head of State, a magnificent exhibition was displayed, featuring contributions from the country’s provinces (velayats) as well as the cities of Arkadag and Ashgabat. The exhibits showcased masterpieces of national jewelry art, exquisite carpets, paintings, and unique horse harnesses—serving as a precious setting for the grace and beauty of the Akhal-Teke horses.
The celebration program featured seven thrilling races over various distances, in which the country’s finest horses competed for substantial cash prizes established by Turkmenistan’s key industrial sectors.
In the opening race for three-year-olds over 1,600 meters, the bay horse Nyazli won the prize sponsored by the Finance and Economy Complex, while the sorrel horse Ayyyldyz finished first in the second race—an identical event sponsored by the Oil and Gas Complex. The third race, covering 1,800 meters, victory go to the bay horse Bendesen, who claimed the prize sponsored by the Trade Complex.
An equally intense contest unfolded among horses aged four and older. In the fourth race, the Transport and Communications Complex Prize went to the bay horse Gönybek, while the chestnut horse Maksatly confidently won the Construction and Industrial Complex Prize in the fifth race. The sixth race—covering a distance of 2,200 meters for the country's Agricultural Complex Prize—ended in a triumph for the dun horse Gudratlydag.
The competition culminated in the seventh and final race for the President of Turkmenistan’s Grand Prize. In a fierce contest over the 2,200-meter distance, the liver-chestnut horse Bezirgen—owned by the President of Turkmenistan’s Akhal-Teke Horse Complex—demonstrated exceptional skill and speed. Ridden by master jockey Begenchmyrat Agamyradov, the horse covered the distance in 2 minutes 33.8 seconds. The winner was awarded the Grand Prize of 300,000 manats and the President of Turkmenistan’s Challenge Cup.
