Horse racing: Concerns and protests against the CNG's decisions

Horse owners, jockeys and amateurs from several localities held a press conference this Monday to denounce the method of appointing the president of the CNG of horse racing, as well as certain decisions announced by the new team.

Speaking as a spokesperson for the protesters at this meeting, Mr. Souleymane Diagne raised concerns about the situation of private stud farms, in light of the decisions made by the team led by Dr. Bassirou Fall.

"Today, only private stud farms keep horse racing alive, and they do it with love. Their problem affects the entire value chain of the sector. Today, the new president is trying to kill these private stud farms," he accuses.

Indeed, the president of the National Racing Committee (CNG) had announced that, starting in 2029, only thoroughbred races would be organized in Senegal. According to Mr. Diagne, this decision aims to reduce the number of private stables. "We are on the brink of disaster. The day this decision is implemented will be the death knell for horse racing," he believes.

For his part, Badou Ndiaye, a horse owner , is calling for consultation among the various stakeholders on the sector's problems, particularly owners, jockeys, and veterinarians, regarding the appointment of leaders. "We must be consulted to choose our own leaders. We can't, for example, put a cyclist in charge of horse racing," he argues.

The stakeholders ultimately want a transition from an exceptional structure to a federal structure.