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Dubai's Camel Racing as it used to be
Camel racing as it used to be was more traditional and less formal. Races were held in the desert in the late afternoon or early morning. Sometimes the race was for a special event such as Sheikh Mohammed's Wedding. Anyone could attend these camel races. News of where and when the next camel race was to be held spread by word of mouth. The watching crown could include people from Dubai, surrounding Emirates and Oman. These photos were taken in the early 1970s at several race meetings and still convey an impression of how Camel Racing in Dubai used to be.
Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's Mercedes Benz following a camel race.
Camel Races took place in the open desert.
Races were generally "sprint" races in a straight line.
Empty Oil Drums marked out the Race Track. Start and Finish Lines marked by chalk powder lines.
Not everyone followed the race in their cars.
Preparing for a Camel Race in the Desert.
There were more cars than camels. Range Rover was the favourite 4WD.
Dubai's Range Rovers in the 1970s only seemed to come in the colour Green!.
Whereas little Suzuki 4WDs always seemed to be Yellow!
Race venue was usually accessible by 2WD cars if you didn't mind the risk of becoming bogged down!
Watching from a distance was just as entertaining and a lot safer.
Here the cars take off at the start of a camel race in what becomes a race of their own.
Cars followings the camels across the Finish Line.
Photo taken from a car following the camel race. Drivers had to watch the camels and the cars!
For the car drivers it was every man for himself! Quick reactions and a sixth sense were essentials for following a camel race in a car.
There was as much excitement driving a car at a camel race as there was in racing a camel!
Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's Mercedes Benz following the race.
Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's Mercedes Benz at the race finish line.
Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's car stops at the Finish Line.
End of a day's Camel Racing as it used to be in 1970s !!
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