L'ippica è diventata una vocazione per diversi giovani senegalesi. L'attività del fantino, malgrado sia pericolosa, si sta sviluppando sempre di più e per i bambini svantaggiati rappresenta una via d'uscita dalla povertà.
Vicino a Dakar, l'addestramento dei baby fantini inizia ogni giorno all'alba. Babakar, 13 anni, è al suo primo anno di addestramento. "Quando vado a cavallo sono felice. E penso di poter fare una vita migliore diventando un fantino che andando a scuola. Un giorno ci riuscirò. Ed aiuterò i miei genitori", dice.
In Senegal, un fantino guadagna in media il doppio dello stipendio di un impiegato statale. I bambini vengono addestrati nella scuderia del Racing Club di Pape Seck. Sono selezionati a partire dai dieci anni e devono pesare meno di 40 chili. Vengono nutriti e ospitati in loco. La scuola è gratuita..
Secondo il proprietario della scuderia, i senegalesi seguono molto le corse di cavalli, soprattutto quelle francesi. E i candidati non mancano: su una classe di 20 ne ha rifiutati circa 100.
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