HORSERACING – RASHID Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) announced yesterday that it has renewed its collaboration with the British Racing School to train and develop Bahraini jockeys.
REHC CEO Yusuf Buheji affirmed the importance of the training programmes in qualifying and developing national talents in the field of horseracing, which comes as part of the support provided by the REHC High Committee, chaired by Prime Minister’s Court Minister Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Buheji explained that these programmes are implemented in co-operation with the British Racing School, which is one of the most prominent and longstanding training centres in the field of equestrianism.
He added that the aim is to provide an appropriate environment and sufficient resources to enhance the capabilities of Bahraini jockeys and develop their skills according to the highest technical standards through annual training programmes held both inside and outside the kingdom, as well as to encourage Bahraini youth to engage in the sport of horseracing.
This came during a visit by Buheji, accompanied by a delegation from REHC, to the British Racing School in the UK. During the visit, the renewed co-operation agreement was signed between both parties by Buheji and the British Racing School’s CEO Andrew Braithwaite.
The agreement stipulates continued co-operation between the Bahrain Jockey Academy (BJA) and the British Racing School in organising joint training programmes and benefiting from the school’s training, technical, and advisory expertise. This collaboration aims to provide technical and advisory support for the academy’s annual training initiatives.
The visit also included a meeting between Buheji and the Bahraini jockeys participating in the training programme being held at the British Racing School. He reviewed the progress of the training stages that are considered as a continuation of the comprehensive programme, whose first phase began at the BJA.
During the meeting, Buheji encouraged the jockeys to make the most of this opportunity in order to develop their skills and capabilities, which comes in line with the REHC’s efforts to build a strong base of Bahraini jockeys who can compete at different international events.
Buheji noted that the expansion of the training programme in 2025, which includes the participation of a new group of jockeys along with Bahraini technical and administrative staff, came as an outcome of the positive results achieved since the programme’s launch in 2024. Such great results were clearly reflected in the improved performance of emerging jockeys during their participation in races.
Jockey Foundation acting director Mohammed Ahmed Al Nema stated that this programme is part of the foundation’s vision to enhance the skills of Bahraini jockeys and enable them to gain broader experience. He affirmed that this is being achieved through the launch of an extensive training programmes aimed at supporting a selected group of elite jockeys, who were chosen based on their outstanding performance in the local programme held at the BJA from October of last year to February of 2025.
Al Nema added that the training programme at the British Racing School includes intensive exercises under the supervision of elite international trainers and jockeys. It features both theoretical and practical training, as well as the jockeys’ participation in a number of local races in order to maximise the benefit of real-world experience and enhance their readiness to compete at both regional and international levels.