OREANDA-NEWS. May 5, 2012. Experts discussed the prospects of racing business in Russia and the concept of national horse park in Bashkiria at the first international conference on National Horse-Breeding and Hippodrome Business within the business program of Hipposphere, an annual international horse exhibition.

According to Ildar Akhmetov, Deputy Director of Akzubat hippodrome, the project of national horse park has already been approved by the Government and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The exhibition will tell about Bashkir traditions and include a model of aul, a street of medieval crafts, and a small horse theater for equestrian shows and historical performances. Moreover, an equestrian centre where each comer can hire and learn to ride a horse will become an essential part of the park.

The conference agenda also included the report by Alla Polzunova, Vice President of the Russian Trotter Breeding Association. The Association takes an active part in the revival of national racing business. It has been organizing Great Tracks - horse races covering several regions of the country - since 2007. In particular, the development of local racing business was mostly fostered by the Siberian Track which includes horse races in Krasnoyarsk, Altay, Abakan, Novosibirsk, and Omsk. The All-Russian Oryol Trotter Festival first held in 2010 pursues the same national horse-breeding promotion goal.

According to Ms. Polzunova, the racing business has been going through the tough times over the past four years. The major challenge that hinders its development is a betting ban. Deprived of this effective payback source, the racing business faces serious problems. “Organizers have to spend at least 200 thousand roubles on a prize,” Vice President told.

Russian experience was benchmarked against Europe where horse racing betting is booming. Senior Advisor of Suomen Hippos, a trotting and breeding association, Matti Lakkisto told about the Finnish practice. Last year the betting turnover of our northern neighbors was EUR 248 million of which EUR 179 million (i.e. 74%) returned to the race participants.