Horses take centre-stage in Marsa festival

On Sunday, the Marsa Racetrack will be hosting for the first time an Equestrian Festival which is being organised by the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport with the collaboration of the Malta Racing Club, the Malta Equestrian Federation and the Malta Polo Club.

A fun-filled festival for all ages is in prospect as the public will have the opportunity to see at close quarters and experience the excitement of various equestrian disciplines.

In equestrian there is always more than one athlete as, apart from the rider, there is also the horse; this is what makes this sport so exciting.

The equestrian programme will include dressage, pax de deux (to music), quadrilles (to music), gymkhana and a parade with riders and flags.

Apart from equestrian, a polo match will also be played.

Polo is a dynamic team sport played on horseback in which the objective of the game is to move the polo ball downfield, hitting it through the goal for a score against an opposing team.

Like other equestrian sports, polo requires immense athleticism, skill and cooperation. The game is played on a full-size field.

Malta boasts the oldest polo club in Europe which was founded in1868.

In addition, one of the world's top players was Salvu Darmanin who had a six handicap and was considered one of the hardest hitters of the game... he is in fact listed in the Golden Book of the World's Greatest Polo Players.

Sunday afternoon will be dedicated to racing. The programme will be different to those held regularly at the Racetack as it will comprise two heats for horses in different categories and a final, all run on the same day. Trotters in the Premier, Gold and Silver classes will take part in Sunday's festival.

The heats and finals will be run over the short distance of 1,640 metres.

On the day, the MRC will have on display the wonderfully-crafted Mediterranean Derby trophy, which dates back to 1857.

Sunday's festival will get underway with pony races at 7.30 a.m. which will be followed with the blessing of horses and other animals at 8.45 a.m.

Entrance will be for a nominal fee of €2.50 and children go in for free. The festival will also raise funds for the Puttinu Cares Group.