A head shorter than his peers, Fallou Diop quickly vanishes into the crowd of jockeys preparing for early morning drills in the western Senegalese village of Niaga.
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Horses are an integral part of life in Senegal. Horse-drawn buggies are ubiquitous across the country, and over the past 50 years competitive racing has developed into a national pastime.
"It's a passion in my family," Diop said. "Since my grandfather we've supported horses, then my father after him."
Left: Diop (2nd right) prepares to competes. Right: Diop is handed prize money after winning a race held by the Hippodrome Ndiaw Macodou DIOP.
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Dressed in vibrant yellow and blue, Diop calmly mounted his steed and led it towards the track.
Diop went on to finish first in three of his five races that day, taking home nearly $1,000 in winnings.
"I want to be the best jockey in a country other than mine," he said. "In Morocco or France, anywhere there is horse racing."
PHOTO EDITING MARIKA KOCHIASHVILI; WRITING COOPER INVEEN; TEXT EDITING BATE FELIX; LAYOUT JULIA DALRYMPLE