23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Racing Against the Odds: Sonya, the 7-Year-Old Jockey

The term jockey is associated with horse riding. In this picture, an 7 year-old girl named Sonya is seen as a jockey. At her age, she is expected to play conventional games like other children. However, she is actively involved in horse racing, which is uncommon for a girl of her age. Her participation isn’t driven by passion alone - sometimes, financial incentives play a role as well. Jockeys are paid based on each race, with the total prize money divided among the top five finishers.90-100 horse competed to win this year. People from different areas took part in this contest. Besides ,People from nearby villages came to enjoy the game. Around 50000 people came to witness the winner. Hundreds of years old traditional horse race contest has taken place at Mohonpur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh on 23 January,2023

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Camera: NIKON D750
Copyright: © Shahedul Islam Sadik