Where Horseracing Beats Soccer

Lesotho Village: Basotho Ponies, Crossbreeds and Thoroughbreds All Race

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Swathed in vibrant woolen blankets against the biting winter chill, jockeys – some no more than boys – thundered down a dusty track carved between the undulating hills of the tiny kingdom of Lesotho.

Spectators lining the ridges cheered on the riders as their horses sprinted down one of Africa's highest tracks, more than 2,200m above sea level.

Horse racing in Lesotho is not just a sport; it is a cultural carnival where wagers are the real blood sport.

This weekend's edition in the village of Semonkong in central Lesotho carried extra weight; it was the premium fixture of the season and timed to mark King Letsie III's birthday.

Preparations started before the crowd arrived, with the horses, also wrapped in blankets and balaclavas to keep warm, walked to the arena amid song and dance, then brushed and fitted with weather-worn saddles for their races.