Traditional donkey racing in Bahrain - in pictures

Bahrain has been hosting donkey races for many years

Donkey racing in the Bahraini town of Saar, west of Manama, last week. All photos: Reuters

Racing donkeys have been a feature of life in Bahrain for more than 40 years. Races are usually held between December and March, after which the weather gets too hot for the animals.

The sport is considered a healthy outlet for village youth who breed the donkeys, train them and look after them.

“We need supporters for this traditional sport that does not exist in the Gulf [except] here and in Saudi Arabia. When visitors come and see the traditional sport in the kingdom of Bahrain, they are happy because it’s not available abroad," said local Mohammed Zamil.

One of the foreigners watching the races on February 18 was Indian businessman Karisi Master, who lives in Bahrain but had not previously had the chance to attend the races despite saying he was "always interested".

Donkeys are attached to a cart made out of light wood from where jockeys control the animals, giving them signs to run and guiding them in straight lines with a soft pipe so as not to hurt the donkeys.

The National