Jos Racecourse

The Jos Racecourse in Jos, the capital of Plateau State in north-central Nigeria, provides a distinctive alternative to the lowland Nigerian racing circuit — the Jos Plateau sits at approximately 1,200 metres (approximately 4,000 feet) above sea level, giving the area a temperate climate unusual for equatorial West Africa and making it one of Nigeria's most pleasant environments for horse racing. Jos's colonial history as an administrative and mining centre (tin mining on the Plateau was significant during the British colonial period) created a British settler community who established equestrian infrastructure alongside the indigenous horse culture of the Plateau's various ethnic communities. Racing at the Jos Racecourse provides year-round competition thanks to the Plateau's mild temperatures, supplementing the primarily harmattan-season Kaduna programme. The Jos Classic Series — the Plateau Derby and the Jos Gold Cup — are the track's main prestige events, drawing horses from the Kaduna circuit and occasionally from Abuja's growing horse ownership community. The proximity to the federal capital territory (Abuja is approximately three hours from Jos) has created growing interest from Abuja-based horse owners who have found the Plateau's conditions suitable for breeding and training operations.