More than four thousand years ago, and since the Dilmun civilization that flourished on the land of Bahrain, this island was closely related to the horses, as the horses were part of the fabric of daily life, and a means of decoration, transportation and war, and since those ancient times the Bahraini relationship with the horses has not been interrupted, but it developed from a symbol to stay to the title of pride, so that the equestrian with the passage of time is an authentic component of the Bahraini identity, and the inheritance of The ancient plains to the modern times of the modern era retained its high position and its implications that are rooted in the conscience of the homeland.
Since Sheikh Ahmed bin Muhammad Al Khalifa, nicknamed Ahmed Al -Fateh, entered Bahrain in 1783, the equestrian identity was associated with the identity of the emerging state. Bahrain is a kiss for horses and its fans, and a countryman for the original strains, and in light of this vision since ancient times, the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club was established in 1977, to be a sponsor of this heritage, and defended it towards broader horizons.
With the direct support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who attaches the equestrian sector a strategic attention within his comprehensive vision of sustainable development, the development steps were launched towards new horizons, as his son, His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, took over the presidency of the Rashid Equestrian Club and horse racing, so Bahraini equestrian entered an advanced stage of modernization, during which we witnessed the start of night races For the first time, the expansion of international posts, and the upgrading of the Bahrain International Cup to the ranks of world championships, as well as adding a series of new runs that have been attracting owners and coaches of horses from all over the world.
In the background of this achievement, there was a tight administrative work led by Mr. Youssef Bouhaji, CEO of the club, who worked to activate partnerships with major commercial institutions, create investment projects, and was interested in modernizing the infrastructure, as well as building an institutional reputation that makes the club an honorable interface in the name of Bahrain, and was not satisfied with managing racing, but went further and worked to develop the experience of attendance, and made every effectiveness A tourist and economic event, and the direction of Bahrainis during the weekend to enjoy the exceptional recreational experience.
Here, the features of the transformation are reflected, as the club exceeded that it is just a track for the race, to be a platform that works to highlight Bahrain as a pivotal player in the global equestrian scene, as it has become a visit like Sir Alex Ferguson for Rashid Club, to attend its horse race, a familiar scene that reflects the position in the Kingdom, not only for the value of prizes, but also with good organization, warmth, and the quality of competition.
Among the qualitative steps that enhance this trend, I have read in the past days a news about the establishment of a luxury hotel within the club, inspired by the “field” experience in Dubai, where the magic of hospitality is integrated with the pulse of races, and sports tourism intersects with smart investment, so the presence of a hotel overlooking the track will enhance the luxury and the experience of tourists, which is a strategic necessity to make equestrian an integrated product, adding to the visitor’s experience in dimensions New, and supports tourism by attracting interested people from the countries of the world, opening the door for luxury residency to the king and fans, and enhancing local spending in the vicinity of the club.
The proposed hotel will be a qualitative addition to the sports economy in Bahrain, a source of business opportunities, and a stimulating growth in the services and hospitality sectors, and a new scene will be completed for Rashid Club, where the race is not seen only from the stands, but also from the balconies of luxury rooms, and where tourism is intertwined with heritage, and the equestrian transforms from effectiveness to an integrated experience.
Thus, Bahrain proceeds in its bet on its identity, based on a deep legacy, an ambitious royal will, and an administration that believes in every step on the track, a story that can be narrated to the world, and a new image that can be drawn on the map of tourism and economics, with an unimaginable identity.
