June 4, 2024
President Bola Tinubu‘s horse, named “Renewed Hope” has maintained the title as the fastest horse in Africa by clinching the first position in the 2024 edition of the horse racing tournament held in Bida.
‘Horse Renewed Hope’ is now the defending champion of the tournament in Nigeria which was organized by the Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria.
It defeated horses from Nigeria and five other African countries who participated.
The countries include Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
It would be recalled that the same horse had topped the winners’ list at the 2022 and 2023 editions of the competition and has been the defending champion in the last three years.
Speaking at the event, Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, congratulated the horse of the president for retaining its championship as the first at the competition.
The governor commended the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar and the Coordinator, National Coordinator of the Horse Racing Federation, for their support in sustaining the success of the annual horse racing in Bida.
The Emir of Bida and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, said efforts would be intensified to strengthen the cultural norms and values of the people through sports.
Etsu Nupe, who is also the chairman, Niger Council of Traditional Rulers said horse racing became necessary to prevent the cultures and traditions from going extinct, adding that horse racing was a historic event and was fast gaining acceptance in the emirate
”The race, which is traditional in nature, further provided an opportunity for the display of cultures as various cultural activities were on display,” the Etsu Nupe added.
He called on the residents to take full advantage of the economic opportunities of horse racing, especially as the riders from other states and countries were participating in the epochal event.
“The event encourages sportsmanship and bolsters unity of the country, Africa and the world. This event also boosts the socio-economic development of Bida, Niger and Nigeria as a whole. We will sustain this enviable feat.
”We are happy that this is the fourth edition of this event and it has been successful. The next edition holds in Kaduna on June 26”, he said.
The Coordinator, National Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha-Bida said that more measures were being taken to domesticate the competition in all parts of the country.
Mustapha-Bida, who is also the chairman, New Niger Development Project said that the event was organised as part of the commemoration of the one year anniversary of Tinubu, saying that it was themed,’ ‘Renewed Hope’.
“Nigeria is taking a led in the horse racing in the committee of nations in Africa, we are very happy to be part of history and to have pushed to ensure that this has become a reality. We have five countries participating, they are Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
“These are our national partners during racing events in Nigeria, it is like an exchange programme, they come to race with us and then we go there to race with them in their different countries, ” he added.
Mustapha-Bida said that the Renewed Hope was also expected to defend title in the forthcoming races in Kaduna and Kano in June/July
Six Toyota vehicles were presented to the winners of various categories of race, second positions got N700,000 each, third and fourth received N500,000 and N300,000, respectively.
