A horse for the Kazakh people is a symbol of intelligence, a symbol of a higher world. It had been thought that the horse accompanied the mortals to the world of ancestors. There is a whole philosophy describing the mystical relationship of a horse and a rider, the Centaur. The rites of initiation of a boy to become a man (djigit in Kazakh) are rooted back to ancient times. At the age of 3 a boy was seated on a horse (in Kazakh language it sounds like “atka mingezu”), at the age of 7, the boy participated in the race, at the age of 14 the boy passed the test for running, throwing, shooting, and horse riding.
Almaty racetrack is a major center of horse riding. It opened in March 1930, and it served as a place of testing and riding horse breeds, such as Arabian, Don, Akhal-Teke, Kustanai and others. The racetrack was involved into the supply of horses for the country's army during the war. It was originally located on the territory of "Green Market" (Hay Square). However in 1934 it was relocated to the modern building on Omarov Street, 10a. To date, the racetrack occupies an area of 42 hectares, with a racetrack of 2000 m length and 16 m wide. It is coated with natural soil. The viewers tribunes are designed for 3,000 people. There are 2 prize tracks and 2 working tracks there, the venue for holding of various competitions, stables for 500 horses, veterinary hospital, swimming pool for bathing the horses, a smithy, where the horses get their horseshoes, horse-rolling point, a restaurant, a museum of horse breeding. Visitors can bet in sweepstake.
