This year, Sarga, in collaboration with the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi), will organize 10 horse races in Central Java and Yogyakarta. The final race will be held in Pulomas, Jakarta, at the end of the year.
Sports promoter Sarga, under PT Kuda Pacu Indonesia, is working to bring horse racing into the spotlight in Indonesia while keeping its traditional roots. Sarga’s business director, Diana Airin, noted that despite Indonesia’s strong equestrian culture, horse racing has not yet been developed as a commercial sport.
“Countries like Hong Kong and Australia have turned horse racing into a major event, but in Indonesia, we haven’t even started commercially developing it,” Diana said during her visit to The Jakarta Post.
This year, Sarga, in collaboration with the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi), plans to hold 10 races in Central Java and Yogyakarta. The final race will be held in Pulomas, Jakarta, at the end of the year. Additionally, five after-party concerts will take place in Yogyakarta and Jakarta.
Sarga started its efforts to commercialize horse racing in 2023 at the Sultan Agung Horse Racing Track in Bantul, Yogyakarta, where 5,000 spectators attended. By the following year, it hosted the National Horse Racing Championship Series 01 Indonesia Derby in Bantul, attracting a crowd of 36,000.
Sarga is dedicated to developing Indonesia’s horse racing scene by providing cultural and sports training to local communities. The company’s goal is to create a professional environment and encourage more people to embrace horse racing as a lifestyle.
Indonesia has a rich history of traditional horse racing, including the Gayo races in Aceh, which date back centuries. The earliest recorded race in Aceh took place in 1850, and during Dutch colonial rule in 1912, the format changed from a straight track to an oval one. After gaining independence, Aceh continued to hold annual horse racing events. Other regions, such as Bima in West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi, also have regular traditional horse races.
Despite this long history, horse racing is not as popular as horseback riding, which is enjoyed by President Prabowo Subianto. “Our President has a deep appreciation for horseback riding, and his family values equestrian sports. That’s one reason why Sarga was created,” said Diana.
Sarga was founded by Aryo Djojohadikusumo, President Prabowo’s nephew and a horse enthusiast, along with businessmen Daniel Surya, Aseanto Oudang, and Martin Kauw.
