VIDEO: Did you know the jockeys used in camel races are just robots?
Professional camel racing started in 1972 in Qatar and the season usually runs from September through to around March.
More than 5,000 locals attend every year and there are some 22,000 camels races in Qatar and more than 55,000 across the Gulf.
Camels usually start racing around the age of two and generally go into stud at around six years old.
Races are usually held over a distance of four kilometres, though for older animals that can reach a maximum of eight kilometres.
The races themselves are exuberant occasions and not for the faint-hearted.
Camel owners, usually in Land Cruisers, thunder alongside the sand track, honking horns and shouting for their animals to run faster. Mixed in with the owners' vehicles are fans driving along to get close to the action.
Sitting on top of the camels are tiny robot jockeys, which can be remotely-controlled.
In Qatar, there are three big races each season, with valuable prizes such as $200,000 Mercedes Maybach cars.
Robots took me by surprise :)
Wow!! this is amazing..
yes. Child jockeys were outlawed sometime after 2002
seriously...
Prior to this , many countries used child jockeys for camel racing