LEBANON: BEIRUT HORSE RACE COURSE REOPENS
English/Nat
For years a battle ground between rival militias, Beirut's horse racing course is regaining its position as one of the most distinguished tracks in the Arab world.
The course straddles the former green line which divided the city into mainly-Christian and Muslim-controlled areas and was the scene of heavy fighting during more than a decade of civil war.
Now horses are running here once more and the track has won back much of its pre-war lustre.
Beirut's race course -- the Hippodrome du Parc de Beyrouth -- is back on track.
For years the only races held here were between militia men dodging snipers' bullets.
During more than a decade of civil war few would have put money on the race course ever opening again.
But just a few years after the fighting ended it has regained its position at the heart of Beirut society.
The owners of the course say they see its reopening as a first step towards re-establishing Beirut as a chic and sophisticated tourist destination.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Lebanon is preparing to regain its position in the Arab world, and we hope that the reconstruction process, and the preparations for the future, will enable Lebanon to be the
center of tourism and activity, financial and international, and this race course will be one of the attractions.
SUPER CAPTION: Pierre Faroun, joint owner of Beirut race course
During the war years much of Beirut's brightest racing talent fled the country.
The unrivalled stock of thoroughbred horses almost entirely disappeared. The best animals were sold abroad and many others died of neglect.
Now the horses are coming back -- many of them supplied by wealthy owners from oil rich Gulf states.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Previously we had only the Arabian horses from the area racing here in the area, today we have to become more international and open more possibility to the thoroughbred, and Lebanon should become one of the most important racing area.
SUPER CAPTION: Nabil Nasrallah, General Manager of the Beirut race course
The Lebanese have taken up their old pleasures again with enthusiasm and each race day the track swarms with horse lovers.
Now the race is on to complete the rebuilding of a city which for years became a virtual byword for strife and destruction.
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EquiFun2017 Hippodrome de Beyrouth
the 2017 edition of EquiFun was organized at l'Hippodrome de Beyrouth and sponsored by Equisystem. it included the usual pony games but was not a dress-up your horse event.
The club at l'hippodrome de Beyrouth was established earlier that year and is still running.
This Video was on the old Equisystem channel. We are re-uploading it now to the new channel: Equisystem La Sellerie du Liban.
Future of horse racing at Beirut Hippodrome in doubt
(3 Apr 2016) LEBANON RACE TRACK
SOURCE: AP TELEVISION
RESTRICTIONS: MIDDLE EAST EXTRA CLIENTS ONLY
LENGTH: 4:17
AP Television
Beirut - 28 March 2016
1. Various of horse race at Beirut hippodrome
2. Wide of people by side of track
3. Horse and jockey trotting on track
4. Close of hooves
5. Various of horses in bullpen before race
6. Jockey at window
7. Men waiting to see horses
8. Jockey mounting horse and walking away
9. High angle of horses leaving starting blocks
10. Various of horse race
11. Various of spectators
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ali Ftouri, 23, race fan:
Before I used to come, I didn't know there was a racetrack for horses here, I didn't know one existed. But in 2011, sorry 2015, I felt that what I enjoy doing is going to the horse races. Especially on Sunday when there are races and in the morning, I like to go to the stables and chat with people.
13. Close of sign at weighing area
14. Jockey being weighed
15. Jockeys leaving weighing area
16. Pan of Beirut hippodrome
AP Television
Beirut - 24 March 2016
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Bilal Hamad, Mayor of Beirut:
I want this to be open to all Beirutis. It's their right. It's municipality property. It's not property of people who only like to gamble on horses.
AP Television
Beirut, Lebanon - 23 March 2016
18. Various of people at races
19. Wide of spectator stands with horses racing in foreground
AP Television
Beirut - 24 March 2016
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Bilal Hamad, Mayor of Beirut:
Most of the stables today are illegal. They are against the law. They don't pay taxes. They are illegal and they are there because of political power and illegal power. We want to finish that.
AP Television
Beirut - 22 March 2016
21. Wide of stables
22. Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon petting a horse
23. Horses in stables
24. Pharaon petting a horse
25. SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Pharaon, Minister of Tourism and member of The Society for the Protection and Improvement of The Arabian Horse:
This is part of the culture, it's part of the history of Beirut, this horse track. So yes, we want to find, let's say, a kind of scheme where it can be open to the public during the whole week. It can be a green park, at the same time keeping the functions of the horse track going on.
26. Various of man at the stables
LEADIN:
Beirut's hippodrome is struggling for financial survival as its horse racing events fall in popularity.
Some are pushing for new facilities to open it up to the public.
But they have a fight on their hands with groups that hope to preserve its horse racing heritage.
STORYLINE:
Galloping round the track at breakneck speed.
The jockeys urge their horses on, vying for first place.
But these races are not what they used to be.
The Beirut Hippodrome has fallen on hard times.
The racetrack opened in 1916 and by the 1950s, it had become part of the architectural fabric of the young Lebanese republic.
But it suffered greatly during the country's 15-year civil war and has never recovered its former glory.
The track once hosted races that were 20 horses strong.
But now only four or five run at a time.
Some claim prize money is too low to attract new horse owners and many don't enter their best animals - or even don't enter at all.
And crowds have dwindled from thousands of spectators to just the hardcore fans and gamblers.
Gambling revenues are down, but for those still prepared to make the journey here, it's an enjoyable experience.
I felt that what I enjoy doing is going to the horse races. Especially on Sunday when there are races and in the morning, I like to go to the stables and chat with people, says race fan Ali Ftouri.
But the track is not making enough money.
Hamad is critical of the horse racing industry.
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Vinifest 2013 @ Beirut Hippodrome
Vinifest 2013 is the talk of the town, with all the wine-lover of Lebanon (and there are many) attending the 4-day festival at the Beirut Hippodrome from October 9-12 to sample wine and enjoy the great tastes available.
More on:
Beit Beirut - Episode2/4 : La vie heureuse - OLJ
La Maison jaune, l'immeuble Barakat, Beit Beirut... Quel que soit le nom qu'on lui donne, la Maison jaune, posée au carrefour de Sodeco sur ce qui deviendra l'une des plus violentes lignes de front de la guerre civile, est un des bâtiments iconiques de Beyrouth.
Iconique en raison de son architecture, mais aussi de son histoire.
Construite en deux temps dans les années 20 et 30, la Maison jaune revient de loin.
Elle a tout connu, de la vie bourgeoise et douce d'avant-guerre, aux menaces de démolition dans les années 90, en passant par les snipers et miliciens embusqués pendant la guerre civile.
Rachetée en 2003 par la Municipalité de Beyrouth qui projette de la transformer en musée et centre culturel, la maison devrait subir prochainement une métamorphose.
Avant le lancement des travaux, lorientlejour.com vous propose une visite guidée, en quatre épisodes, de l'immeuble Barakat, fermé au public depuis 2004.
Dans son cabinet, des milliers de personnes sont probablement passées pour des dents cariées, cassées, douloureuses. Ces patients sont une des tranches de vie du Dr Nagib Schemali. Une vie dont les témoignages et souvenirs se sont retrouvés abandonnés sur le sol de son appartement dans la Maison jaune.
Toutes sortes de documents, journaux, photos, lettres, brochures de cinéma, gisant dans un immeuble vidé et qui documentent la vie heureuse dans l'immeuble Barakat et dans Beyrouth, des années 1930 aux années 1970.
Parmi les cartes de visite retrouvées par l'architecte Mona el-Hallak dans la carcasse du bâtiment, celles de Fouad Chehab, Saëb Salam, Abdallah el-Yafi, Henri Pharaon, et bien sûr celle du propriétaire des lieux Nagib Schemali. Une carte sur laquelle on pouvait lire : Nagib Schemali, chirurgien-dentiste, Rue de Damas, arrêt Nasra. L'entrée de l'immeuble donnait sur un des arrêts de la première ligne de tramway de Beyrouth.
Avant la guerre, cinq familles occupaient les huit appartements de la Maison jaune : les Barakat, les propriétaires, les Ghattas, les Massoud, les Fallaha et les Schemali, sans compter les boutiques du rez-de-chaussée, dont une où sévissait le coiffeur Ephrem, inventeur autoproclamé du chignon Achrafieh, et le seul à être revenu vivre dans l'immeuble à la fin de la guerre.
Mona el-Hallak a minutieusement récupéré les documents. Elle nous raconte la vie heureuse, celle d'avant la guerre, dans la Maison jaune.
Vinifest Beirut
we were all drunk in the bus
LMTA Fundraising Dinner 2016 - Hippodrome Beirut
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) held its annual fundraising dinner “Banquet under the Pines” at the Hippodrome du Parc in Beirut, on Friday October 14, 2016, with guest speaker, H.E. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Michel Pharaon, and the presence of EU Ambassador Ms. Christina Lassen, Governor of Beirut Mr. Ziad Chebib, Governor of Mount Lebanon Mr. Fouad Fleifel, USAID representative Mr. George Fren, and Founder of LMT, Mr. Joseph Karam.
The “Food Heritage” theme for this year was celebrated by having cooks from villages on the LMT prepare their savory and sweet specialties, making the occasion a remarkable culinary experience.
The dinner featured “M’tachtach” from Andqet, “Lahm bi Khal” from Baino Akkar, Qorrayssa with tahini form Douma, Tabbouleh with Lentils from Mristi ech-Chouf, Potato Kebbeh from Ain Zebdeh West Beqaa, Freekeh with chicken from Maarjaayoun, Arak Baladi from Tannourine, among other specialties from Bqaa Safrine ed Danniye, El Aaqoura, Kfardebiane, El Mtain, Kfarqatra, Rachaiya el Ouadi and Hasbaiya.
The 500 guests took pleasure in tasting several dishes from all over the Lebanese mountains, gathered in one night under the pines, and they danced to traditional Lebanese tunes performed by Joy Fayad. They also took part in a draw to win 76 tombola prizes offered by Lebanese designers and contributors.
It was a gathering of LMTA friends and volunteers, enthusiasts and advocates, partners and sponsors from the public, private and non-profit sectors, in a heartfelt contribution, each in their own way, to the preservation of our mountain heritage.
Chahd el 3assal - Beirut Horse Racing - 11-07-2011
Our champion doing what he does best
Lebanon - Most Underrated Country
BEIRUT
• walk/bike/drive from Mar Mikhael to Corniche (west)- Mar Mikhael (hipster area, Armenia Street with cafes, pubs, street art), Gemmayzeh, Mohammed Al-Amin mosque, old Palestinian refugee camps, restaurants: Leila Restaurant Zaitunya Bay (Lebanese), Pacífico (Mexican), Pigeon Rocks in Raouche
Day 1 Drive to Tyre and back to Beirut
Sidon - 40 minutes south from Beirut
• Coastal town, souk (market for fruit), Sidon Sea Castle $8 for three people
Tyre - 40 minutes from Sidon
• Roman Hippodrome
Day 2 Drive to Tripoli
Jounieh - 35 minutes *be cognizant of traffic
• Teleferique gondola Jounieh to Harissa to hike 5.5 km to Our Lady of Lebanon (Sanctuaire N.d. Du Liban, Basílica of St. Paul)
• Go out in Jounieh
• Jeitta Grotto Caves with stalagmites, stalactites $12 for cable car rides, train, and boat
Byblos- 21 minutes
• Seaside city, cute shops
Batroun-10 minutes
• Seaside city
Anfeh- 14 minutes
• Seaside city
Tripoli - 16 minutes (my friend says tension there to skip)
• Citadel, walk around city
SKIPPED Qadisha(Kadisha) Valley -50 minutes
• most ancient communities of Christian monasteries, good for hiking, natural caves
SKIPPED Shouf
⁃Shouf Cedar Nature Preserve/BaroukCedar Forest*, Moussa Castle, Beit ad-Dine palace
Day 3 Drive to Baalbeck
Karak Nouh
• Cedar Trees
Baalbeck (2 hours from Beirut)
• Roman ruins (Jupiter + Bacchus Temple)- $13, The great Mosque (shia)
A dog’s day at Beirut’s Hippodrome
Dog Festival culminated with a dog show over the weekend, when the Beirut Hippodrome was filled with hundreds of dogs and their owners, entering into a wide range of categories.
Future of horse racing at Beirut Hippodrome in doubt, Ben Said reports
racing in lebanon, beirut
AP in Beirut
Created on June 8, 2010 using FlipShare.
Hona Beirut : Reportage on Al Jadeed
سبق خيل بيروت
سبق خيل بيروت
ISSAM JOCKY LEBANON
CAPTAIN
Liban 2008, Beyrouth, Beirut.
Beyrouth, un nom de capitale qui ne laisse pas indifférent, une ville confrontée à son passé mais tournée vers l'avenir, une ville qui se relève et qui dévoile aussi son patrimoine, parmi ses merveilles, le splendide musée archéologique, qui à lui tout seul mérite une visite dans la capitale libanaise.
Beirut racing day
White horse