On 27 August, the Presidents of Russia and Tatarstan held in Kazan a solemn opening ceremony of the International equestrian centre. The ceremony was attended by the CIS heads of state who participated in the CIS summit and heads of Russian regions who took part in the Russian State Council meeting.

The opening of the "Kazan" equestrian facility turned into a spectacular pageant with a few thousand participants. The main theme of the show was dedicated to the history of Kazan. The story of the foundation of the ancient Bolgar state, its struggle with conquerors, defeat and revival and the birth of Kazan was dramatically presented in the form of battle scenes with participation of cavalry, alternated with scenes of quiet life. The highlight of the entertainment was the horse race for the Russian and Tatarstan's Presidents's prizes. The thousands of spectators were happy to see the Tatarstan President's bay horse Lambron win the President of Russia's prize.

The International equestrian centre is a truly unique facility, the first hippodrome of such a level in Russia. The area is 89.4 hectars, stands admit over 6 thousand spectators. The race track is 1800 metres long, turf-1600 metres. The show-jumping lawn is 100 by 150 metres, designed to hold any type of jumping and dressage competitions.

Besides, the equestrian centre has two riding lawns for training, training ground for professional riding, riding park and a maintenance zone containing 12 stables, a veterinary clinic, swimming pool for horses et cetera.

To complete the picture, there are several restaurants, museum of horse-breeding, betting box offices and a parking lot for 2 thousand cars. The general secretary of the European Trotting Association Jacque Chartier claimed on 29 August to journalists that the International equestrian centre in Kazan is one of the best hippodromes in the world, the citizens of Kazan can be proud to have such a superb facility, equipped according to global standards.

The French delegation is happy to take part in a major competition like this with our French trotters, he added.

The President of the Russian Trotting Association Alla Polzounova in an interview to Intertat.ru claimed that, the Kazan hippodrome meets the highest global standards in every aspect: length and quality of the race tracks, stands' capacity, level of stables equipment. She believes, the Kazan equestrian centre will promote the development of not only racing, a more commercial sport, but of the Olympic kinds, such as jumping and dressage, that are now on the average level in Russia. Shortly, in 2-3-year time Russian horses will be able to perform quite well at the Olympics since now in Russia promising "youth" is being bred, Polzounova believes.

Besides, the increasing popularity of the track betting system, launched in Tatarstan with the appearance of the equestrian centre, is to enhance the horse breeding industry, since 15-20% of its profit is to be used to develop the branch in this republic.

According to Alla Polzounova, the development of the track betting system is capable of benefiting the republic's economy. She referred to the example of France, where 30% of the state budget revenues is generated by taxation of betting system.

27.08.2005
Source: Intertat.ru
Photo by M.Kozlovsky