Camel racing is a popular sport in the Middle East and Central Asia. In the Middle East, dromedary, or one-hump, camels race around tracks that are about 5 miles long, such as the Cameltown Racetrack in Dubai. Bactrian, or two-hump, camels live in Inner Mongolia and surrounding areas. In 2011, 555 bactrians participated in the largest race of its kind, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
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Racing Camels
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At the races, dromedary camels can start out at speeds up to 40 miles per hour (mph), but slow down to about 25 mph soon after the race begins. This compares to a walking speed of up to 3 mph and a calm jogging speed of 16 mph. If pushed, a camel can travel up to 93 miles in a 20-hour period. Bactrians can also achieve speeds of 40 mph, but only under extreme pressure.
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