Feature: Horse races become popular in Gaza Strip amid hard times

Horse racing in the Gaza Strip attracts the attention of young people and their families for entertainment amid a suffocating Israeli blockade and high rates of poverty.

The sport creates a festive mood and is expected to flourish in the coming years, according to jockeys and experts. The numbers of fans and knights from all over the coastal enclave have been growing over the past few years.

In an area that used to be a battle field for firing rockets into Israel and being struck by Israeli missiles during the Israeli wars waged on the Gaza Strip, the Equestrian Club hosted this week the championship of riding horses in cooperation with the Palestinian Equestrian Union.

The championship included races for three categories on the show jumping -- the first for advanced horse riders, the second for juniors and the third for beginners. The ability of the horse to jump and the talents of the knights are examined.

The winner in the race is the knight who passes the stages of jumping the different barriers in a shorter time, with fewer errors, and earns the highest score of points.

Mohamed al-Tawil, director of the Equestrians Club, told Xinhua that horse riding is becoming popular and attracts more young people and their families in the Gaza Strip.

"Our club is planning to establish an academy for horse riding but not be very soon due to lack of finance," al-Tawil said.

He went on saying that contacts are being made with government bodies and private companies to support this sport and form a national team to represent the state of Palestine in Arab and international championships.

The club's racetrack is a 60-meter long and 40-meter wide in line with the international standard.

"Our racetrack and the surrounding area were a stage for receiving missiles and shells, mainly during the last war in 2014, but now we turned the place into an important sport stage in the Gaza Strip," al-Tawil added.

Noor Herzallah, a 17-year-old horse rider, who won the first place in the race of the advanced category, told Xinhua that horse riding "is my favorite sport, and I feel deeply connected with horses, and not a single day passes without riding a horse."

He further said that he has been practicing this sport since he was a kid, adding "an emotional relationship with horses has grown."

The young knight dreams of, one day, representing the state of Palestine in Arab and international championships and races.

Mahmoud Isleem, 55, who came to attend the festivity to support his children who took part in the championship, said he usually comes to the club to enjoy watching the game.

"This kind of sport gives the players and fans a link between the past and the present," said Isleem, adding that "riding horse riding is one of the most popular sport and one of the most ancient games." Endit