Meatball Monday

Each week we find out about something that is different and called “sport” in various parts of the world and this week we look at Ostrich Racing.

It’s a sport where the Ostrich can be ridden similarly as horses with wagons, special saddles, reins and bits and it is said to be harder to manage than horses.

Ostriches are large flightless birds that are mostly native to Africa, have long necks and legs and can run up 70 km/h.

Their long legs can cover up to 16 ft in just a single stride and Ostriches have the fastest land speed of any bird.

It might seem hard to believe but the sport of ostrich racing has a long and distinguished history.

Believe it or not, a statue of Egyptian Queen Arsinoe II riding an ostrich was discovered in an ancient tomb, and racing the birds is a common practice in Africa.

Ostriches can reach speeds of over 43 mph and their long legs can cover up to 16ft in a single stride.

Ostrich Racing is common in South Africa and in the United States particularly in Chandler, Arizona.

In Jacksonville, Florida, an ostrich farm was opened as a tourist attraction in 1892 and became one of the most visited and known attractions in the state.

Ostrich racing was featured in the Disney fantasy film Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time, but to finish the film makers had to hire Moroccan horse jockeys as stuntmen to complete the movie.

In Arizona the Chandler Ostrich Festival celebrated its 25th year and Ostrich racing is a major part of the festival.

Before the race starts, ostrich jockeys stretches and examine the birds in their pens which is similar to a horse race pen and all Jockeys only wear helmets as their protective gear.

Some of the riders topple the ground together with their wagon or if the bird gets too uncomfortable that it tries to wiggle its way out of the jockey’s grip.

Interesting, but are you up to it?