DUBAI: The southern French town of Aix-les-Bains made history this weekend by hosting the country’s first camel race featuring international competitors, with Dubai-based American rider Isabella Leslie crossing the line first.
Her victory was witnessed by some 3,000 spectators, including several VIPs and representatives from the International Camel Racing Federation.
The event, which saw camels racing on a 300-meter track, marked a new milestone in spreading the sport of camel racing across France and the rest of Europe.
Taking part alongside Leslie were fellow American Jennifer Reggio and France’s Coralie Viroulaud. All three are Dubai-trained jockeys who have been decorated with wins in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“To be honest, this race wasn’t so much about winning,” said Leslie. “I just wanted to be here to promote the sport to a wider audience. Camels won my heart back in Dubai, and since then I have been traveling from the US to the UAE to ride, train and participate in races. I hope events like these help improve the popularity of the sport and make it more accessible to more people.”
Olivier Philipponneau, who trains the French riders, added: “I truly appreciate the teams from overseas making the effort to compete here. We have to work together to grow the interest, and with growing interest comes more possibilities. We hope to send our French jockeys to races in Dubai and Saudi Arabia in the future. We are so pleased to also have HH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Al-Saud in attendance, strengthening our collaboration between the two countries.”
In addition to the races, the event featured a variety of cultural and camel-related activities. Stands from the International Camel Racing Federation and the French Camel Federation provided global insights into the rich heritage and significance of camel racing.
