Rabat – Marrakech’s hippodrome hosted on Saturday the 12th edition of the African Grand Prix in Horse Racing, making it the second consecutive edition to be held in Morocco, and showing off the country’s and continent’s capabilities in the field.

The event was organized by Morocco’s Royal Society of Horse Encouragement (SOREC) and the African Lotteries Association (ALA).

The horse Cityzen, and jockey Ismail Lakjal managed to win first place in the Grand Prix race at the end of the day after winning the 1900 meter 16-horse race.

The horse has been successful over several recent courses leading up to Saturday’s event.

Ismail Lakjal and other jockeys receiving the final race’s prizes.

Jockey Omar Lakjal emerged from the event as another notable winner, taking two prizes in the Marrakech and PMU courses, with the horses Kounouz and Serigraphe respectively. The two horses were favored to win, after performing well in recent events.

The winner of the France Galop course was jockey Khalid Ibba with the horse Al Mambir Fal, as well as the winner of the SOREC course with Misana Fal.

The edition is the second consecutive one held in Marrakech.

Rider Abdellah El Harate won the ALA course with the horse Espoir Eternel, which continued a good form from its last few races.

The event saw attendance from several African delegations as well, including President of the ALA Dramane Coulibaly, reflecting SOREC’S and Morocco’s continental position in the horse racing industry.

Testament of the event’s success

Speaking to the press at the end of the event, Coulibaly praised the organization and Morocco’s horse racing industry, saying that the race confirms the success of last year’s edition, which was also held in Morocco.

Coulibaly added that the ALA established a joint committee with SOREC to iron out any imperfections in the last two editions, and to help develop horse racing in Morocco and in Africa.

“We thank the people of Morocco, and especially the people of Marrakech, which hosted this event since last year, and we hope that it will continue hosting it to make better and better editions,” he said.

African delegations attended Saturday’s event.

Coulibaly praised Morocco’s and SOREC’s organization prior to Saturday’s event, recalling the 2022 edition.

“Through SOREC, Morocco has demonstrated its ability to unite the entire ecosystem around an international event and to increase the visibility and dynamism of African races,” he said in a press release during the leadup to the race.

Morocco’s expertise

From SOREC’s point of view, Morocco is uniquely situated to help advance horse racing in Africa.

General Director of SOREC Omar Skalli said on Saturday that the society can export its knowledge in the horse racing and betting industries to other African countries.

For Skalli, SOREC occupies a unique position as the organizer of both the races themselves and the betting parts of the event, whereas other countries have different operators for both.

Omar Skalli and Dramane Coulibaly.

“That’s very important as it made us able to improve, to invest, and develop horse racing, and in a few years we could improve the organization and also quality of horses with some very special actions within the breeders and owners of horses,” he told Morocco World News (MWN).

Skalli added that training is important, drawing attention to SOREC’s training facilities and the fact that the organization impressed not only African countries but also European observers.