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SARGA.CO—When we talk about high-achieving racehorses in Indonesia, many of them trace their breeding back to North Sulawesi. Backed by superior bloodlines, a tight-knit breeder community, and a well-preserved riding tradition, this region stands as one of the nation’s prime hubs for producing champions on the national circuit.
North Sulawesi is recognized as one of the country’s foremost racehorse centers—and not without reason. A deeply rooted horse-riding culture has long made this province a powerhouse for producing elite racehorses in Indonesia.
From a performance standpoint, data from Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) of North Sulawesi recorded a sharp spike in the horse population, from 504 head in 2023 to 1,601 in 2024. Minahasa contributed the most with 1,410 horses.
This growth underscores how North Sulawesi—particularly Minahasa—continues to preserve its riding culture through the breeding of top-tier racehorses. Indirectly, that effort keeps strengthening the presence of horses from this region across national championships.
In a special conversation, the SARGA.CO team sat down with Mario Bahar, owner of Bendang Stable, located in Pinabetengan, Tompaso, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi.
Several names, including Balerion Nagari, Arceus Nagari, Dewa United (formerly named Sunlight Nagari), and other standout racehorses, have all strutted their stuff at national-level tournaments.
All of those horses were directly bred at Mario’s Bendang Stable. They were later purchased and campaigned by other stables in various national championships.
According to Mario, the riding culture in North Sulawesi has been entrenched for generations. That’s the solid foundation behind the growth of horse racing in the region.
Beyond culture, several other factors make North Sulawesi deserving of its status as one of Indonesia’s premier racehorse centers, including:
Minahasa Regency, including Tompaso, is one of the best spots to breed racehorses. Its stable tropical climate and natural grasslands create ideal conditions for building racehorses’ stamina and endurance.
Mario said that those factors can’t be separated from the fertile soil and quality water that fully support the demands of breeding racehorses.
The deeply ingrained riding tradition in North Sulawesi, especially in Minahasa, has produced a large community of breeders and trainers. They don’t just share experience; they also apply selective breeding approaches to turn out elite racehorses consistently.
This culture has forged a solid horse-racing ecosystem—and it’s a key reason Mario established his legendary stable base in Tompaso.
“Besides being close to my home in Manado, Tompaso truly has a strong riding culture. Almost every farmer’s household there keeps racehorses, so people are used to interacting with horses from childhood. From jockeys to groomers, all the human resources are already there,” Mario explains.
Breeders in North Sulawesi, including Tompaso, place immense importance on equine bloodlines. According to Manado Post, many racehorses have gradually been maintained by infusing top-tier breeds such as Thoroughbreds (THB).
On the other hand, crossbreeding with national-level champion mares and sires is also taken very seriously by the local community and stables. The strategy is designed to maintain—and elevate—the quality of racehorses under development.
As national horse racing interest has increased, demand for North Sulawesi-bred racehorses has surged. According to Mario, most of that demand comes from Java. The spike has naturally affected how many horses local breeders can keep developing.
“For roughly the last five years, the number of horses from local breeders has somewhat declined,” Mario says.
The decline in horse numbers, driven by growing demand from Java, briefly affected the staging of regional races in North Sulawesi.
“The number of horses racing in North Sulawesi isn’t large—maybe around 20–25 head. Per race, it’s about three horses. So it’s not that much,” he reveals.
Even with the decline triggered by high demand—especially from Java—Mario says the population of racehorses from local breeders is still relatively large.
“Big stables in Java are now bringing in Thoroughbreds. They need superior broodstock. That’s why top-quality horses from local breeders in North Sulawesi are being sold to those stables,” Mario adds.
Mario notes that several North Sulawesi racehorses coveted by Java stables hadn’t even gone through full training. A horse that just won a race immediately turns heads and gets taken out of the region for further development.
The high demand for local racehorses is proof that North Sulawesi’s breeding quality is nationally acknowledged.
As one of North Sulawesi’s elite racehorse producers, Mario’s Bendang Stable is currently focused on sustainable breeding development. But his ambitions haven’t faded—he still wants to send his homebred horses directly to national championship tracks.
Despite strong demand for racehorses from North Sulawesi, the development potential still faces hurdles. Mario says support facilities—like medical assistance for horses—are very limited.
“So, in Tompaso, there’s no equine veterinarian. That’s the most basic thing, but to this day, the government hasn’t been able to provide one. So we end up learning on our own to treat sick horses,” Mario explains.
The initiative to self-learn equine care emerged because access to veterinarians is difficult, while a horse’s condition often requires a rapid response.
For that reason, Mario and other horse-racing ecosystem players in North Sulawesi hope the government can provide adequate medical facilities, so the development of elite racehorses can continue to run optimally.
Beyond being a hub for champion racehorse production, North Sulawesi is also famous for producing jockeys who’ve carved their names on the national stage—think Jemmy Runtu, Esra Tamunu, Hanny Suoth, Meikel Soleran, and many more who hail from this land.
The emergence of those big names is inseparable from the region’s riding culture. According to Mario, the potential to keep producing top jockeys from North Sulawesi will grow if it’s supported by more professional training or specialized education. So far, prospective jockeys mostly learn through self-taught experience.
“The jockeys at my place don’t come from schools. They learn on their own—training relies on the experience of stable trainers or senior jockeys,” he says.
He advises North Sulawesi’s younger generation who want to dive into horse racing to anchor themselves with strong intent and determination. Beyond that, mental toughness is essential to survive and thrive in a world that demands iron discipline.
“Being a jockey isn’t easy. Many youngsters start seriously, then get distracted by something else,” he concludes.
Consistency, he emphasizes, is also key for anyone wanting to enter the world of horse racing.
With a strong equestrian heritage, a solid breeder community, and consistency in preserving bloodline quality, North Sulawesi has transformed into a critical pillar on Indonesia’s horse-racing map.
However, behind the accolades and rising demand lie structural challenges that require genuine attention—especially in supporting facilities and human capital regeneration.
If this potential is managed seriously and sustainably, North Sulawesi could continue producing champion racehorses and elite jockeys on the national circuit—ready to compete on the international stage.
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