History Frame | From Naser al-Din Shah’s Grand Prize to the Sparkle in Qajar Women's Eyes in a Winter Photo

Watching horse racing was a popular pastime during the Qajar period. These races were held with grandeur and special ceremonies, in the presence of the king and the people.

Everyone, including the king, the servants, and the people, would travel outside the city to watch, encircling the field. The king's riding hour was announced by the firing of a cannon. The king would ride vigorously, and after a brief rest, he would watch the other riders. Court dignitaries from all professions were also invited and present. Here, the Minister of the Army, Nizam al-Mulk, would announce the names of the riders along with their horses' colors. The jockeys would perform a salute with their horses in front of the king and then start the race.

The prize money bag for each race was neatly arranged, and whenever a horse came first, the jockey would dismount, take the prize bag, hold it over his head, and bow. The largest prize, known as the first prize, was 150 tomans. The end of the race was announced by the firing of a cannon, and the king would return to the city. The spectators would disperse, and the troops and cavalry would return to their barracks. Naser al-Din Shah’s love for horses and horse racing was so great that the only statue he left of himself depicted him riding a horse.

Here is one of the photographs by Antoine Sorogin, a famous photographer from the Qajar period, showing two Iranian women sitting under a korsi (a traditional heater).

In this photo, you can see Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar with several court officials in Mashq Square.

A house of a foreign doctor residing in Tehran during Naser al-Din Shah’s reign.

Here is a photo of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar under the hands of his royal barber, getting his mustache trimmed.