Camels

From Alhannah

You can see herds of camels by driving out of the city, especially west toward Dukkhan, and north toward Al Ruwais. The camel racing track is about 20 minutes drive out the road that runs alongside Education City toward Dukkhan. The racing season is in the winter with races everyday except Friday; they are advertised in the paper. Races run from 12 noon to about 5:30, but break for prayers from about 3 to 3:30. For updated information, call 487-2028.

Camel racing is a somewhat difficult sport for spectators as the race track is 10 Km long. You watch them start with little fanfare, and then 10 – 15 minutes later you watch them finish. The owners drive on a paved track that runs alongside the racing track, but if you are not an owner you are not allowed access. Sometimes there is a bus that runs on the paved track, but if you get on it you will have trouble getting back off. There is a covered grandstand area which provides shade, but don’t look for comfortable seating.

Qatar has outlawed the use of small children as jockeys and is beginning to implement robot jockeys for the camels. These robots are the size of a very small book bag and have a rotating arm with a whip that the owner can remotely control.