(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The owner of the winner in each category drove away in a brand new 4x4 vehicle while the second runner-up received Dh30000.
Some of the fastest Arabian salukis race at Madinat Zayed Al Gharbia during Al Dhafra Festival. — Supplied photos
Abu Dhabi - Some of the fastest Arabian salukis (hounds) had gathered at Madinat Zayed in Al Gharbia (Western Region) for the Al Dhafra Festival for a racing competition but the female dogs vanquished their male opponents in a two-kilometre race that got over in two minutes.
The owner of the winner in each category drove away in a brand new 4x4 vehicle while the second runner-up received Dh30000; the third Dh20000 and both fourth and fifth runners-up walked away with Dh5000.
Despite the strong winds 15 male salukis lined up at the start of the track for a 2km race normally used for camel racing.
The race — that was completed in just two minutes — saw a male saluki run the fastest. The saluki black haired Takhteet belonging to Emirati Mansour Taj Al Balouchi crossed the finishing line in 2.18.99 minutes.
It was followed by Matfi a red hair saluki owned by Mohammed Saif Markhan of UAE; and Jalmood a grey hair saluki belonging to Abdul Rahman Al Sulaity from Qatar that came third. Soon afterwards it was time for the female salukis to race on the same 2km track and surprisingly the winner beat the male saluki record. Fazaah a grey saluki owned by Emirati Jaber Awad Al Mansouri crossed the finishing line in 2.13.31 minutes. Second place in the female category was taken by Waqatt also belonging to Jaber Awad Al Mansouri; while the third place was taken by Shafra owned by Ibrahim Salim Al Saadi of UAE.
Over long distance salukis are known to be the fastest among all dog breeds. In 1996 the Guinness Book of Records entered on its list the fastest saluki that reached a speed of 68.8 kilometres per hour.
Believed to have its origins in China saluki was among the first breed of dogs to be domesticated. In Arab region they have been used by Bedouin people for thousands of years for hunting.
Able to catch rabbits hares and even gazelles the desert hounds were so valued and loved by the Arabs that they allowed the dogs to share the living quarters with them.
Very intelligent sensitive and often shy saluki is a breed apart. They do not like playing fetch or doing the usual dog tricks. Instead they love being outdoors running and playing. Pure Arabian salukis are formidable hunters although their training requires patience and time. In olden days Bedouins would often hunt with both saluki and falcons who used to work with each other perfectly “cornering” their prey in a bush before catching it. Nowadays hunting no longer being allowed in the UAE salukis are mostly companion dogs their extraordinary skills and speed being shown only during races such as this one at Al Dhafra Festival. After pre-qualifications race on December 23 the Challenge the final race on December 30 crowned five winners in each category – male and female.
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