Archive · 2026 · From the print edition of Thursday 12 March 2026, Vol. 33, No. 10,330
NewsZharkyn leads the parade again, Maksat takes the salute
For the second Irad Day running the Governor's stallion led the parade without a rider, under the Governor's saddle, while the Lieutenant Governor stood on the reviewing stand.
TALAS — The Governor's grey stallion Zharkyn led the mounted honour guard through Government Square yesterday for the Irad Day parade, as he has every year since 2019. For the second year running he was led in hand by his groom, under the Governor's parade saddle, with no one in it.
Lieutenant Governor Aidar Maksat took the salute from the reviewing stand. The Office of the Governor said Zharkyn led the parade "in the Governor's place". Governor Erlan Toktarov has not appeared in public since July 2024.
The crowd along Liberty Boulevard applauded the horse as it passed, as it did last year. Some in the square stood in silence. On opposition forums the empty saddle has again been read as an allusion to the Fallen Rider, although the saddle was not reversed. The government did not comment.
In the afternoon Zharkyn, again led by his groom, made a lap of honour at the Irad State Hippodrome before the final of the President's Cup, which was watched by a capacity crowd and by thousands more outside the stadium.