President Bola Tinubu’s horse, “Renewed Hope’, has emerged as the fastest horse at the International Horse Derby in Yola, Adamawa, on Saturday.
The National Cordinator, Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Abubakar Mustapha-Bida, stated this at the finals of the 2025 International Renewed Hope Horse Racing Competition held at Late Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Race Course in Yola.
The National Coordinator of the Racing Competition, who is also the Sarkin Dawaki Nupe, announced that new winners have emerged after the recent derby in Bida, Niger.
He explained that seven Toyota saloon vehicles were presented to the first position winners of various categories of race from the horse racing competition.
While second positions got N700,000 each, third and fourth positions received N500,000 and N350,000, respectively.
According to Sarkin Dawaki Nupe, a horse from Niger Republic, Lamin Kazim, emerged as the second winner under the Sudan stable.
Mr Mustapha-Bida added that his horse, won the SD stables under the Talon category, saying “it won in a spectacular with a distance of 200 metres”.
Sarkin Dawaki Nupe noted that the Republic of Cameroon made very strong contributions at the derby as they came with no fewer than 100 horses at the Yola derby.
“Hence,we had no fewer than 200 horses at the derby and that added tremendous glamour to the global event,” said the HFN national coordinator.
He also expressed delight that top-notch dignitaries witnessed the event from within and outside Nigeria’.
Meanwhile, the national coordinator has disclosed of arrangements for the Savannah season.
According to him, there will be races to be staged in Gumel, Jigawa, Kano and Zaria in Kaduna State, respectively.
He said that the climax would be in Abuja in July, to end the Sahel Savannah 2025 season.
According to him, the 2026 season will feature races in the South-West, South-East and the South-South regions of Nigeria.
The HFN national coordinator extolled Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to boosting horse racing in Nigeria.
According to him, the president has consistently recognised horse racing as part of efforts to ramp up the unity and socioeconomic prosperity of the nation.
While acknowledging the successes of the tournament, Mr Mustapha-Bida also commended the Etsu Nupe for sustaining the event for 12 consecutive years.
The Sarkin Dawaki Nupe stated that no fewer than 500 participants featured in the epochal event from across the Sahel Savannah countries.
He explained that Nigeria was taking a lead in horse racing in the comity of nations in Africa, saying: “We are happy to be part of history and to have pushed to ensure that this has become a reality”.
“We have five countries that participated in the event. They are Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
“They are our international partners during racing events in Nigeria.”
According to Sarkin Dawaki Nupe, the federation is dedicated to promoting national unity and prosperity by bringing from various regions through a shared passion for equestrian activities.
He assured that efforts would be intensified to strengthen the cultural norms and values of the people through sports.
Dignitaries that attended the event included Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Wali Yakubu.
The Lamido Adamawa, Muhammad Barkindo-Mustapha; Mai Tangale, Mal Danladi Sanusi; and Emir of Ibi in Taraba, Malam Iliya Muhammad, were among other dignitaries that graced the occasion.
