PIG RACE COMES INTO VOGUE IN RUSSIA

MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti) - In many countries pig race is very popular. Now is the turn of Russia, where these exotic competitions will be held regularly. On April 18 the founding assembly of the Sport Pig-Breeding was held. It was initiated by the Zoobusiness Enterprises Union. The president's post is so far vacant. It is proposed to be occupied by a prominent figure of sport or art, the Gazeta.Ru writes.

For the last time pig race was held in Russia over 100 years ago under Emperor Nicholas II in 1898 on the Flower Market (Trubnaya Ploschad) in Moscow. As is known, Nicholas II's daughter Olga, passing by the Flower Market, ordered the coach to stop and staked on a pig she liked. As a result, she lost 200 rubles, which was a handsome sum of money at that time.

Revival of the pig race in Russia happened last year at the international exhibition ZooRussia. Interest in the race was vast: over 50,000 people came to see. The Olympiad opening ceremony was held on Pushkin Square, and the race at the exhibition center Crocus Expo.

This year the "porky racecourse" will house the race in Crocus Center in June 3 through 5 within the framework of the second international exhibition ZooRussia. Fifteen pigs have begun training at a sport base leased by the Sport Pig-Breeding Federation.