Author: GC

The main horseracing venue in Uruguay, the Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas has a seating capacity of 2,426 people and was established in1874 in Montevideo. The turf track measures 2,065m with an inside track that runs 2,000m. Although the very first racetrack that existed where the Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas stands today was officially known as Pueblo Ituzaing’o, the common name was Circus of Maroñas. This is because the land in which the racecourse stands belonged to one Juan Maroñas.

The Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas officially opened in 1889. The main attraction of the Hippodrome calendar is the Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez and runs on January 6th , which is called “Three Kings Day.” Other races are the Grand Prix City of Montevideo, the Grand Prix Maroñas, the Grand Prix Pedro Piñeyrúa and the National Grand Prize. Horseracing runs all-year. The racecourse has attracted quite a number of international participants in the races, but the majority have been from the South America.

One can easily get to the Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas by bus from the city centre. It is a little off the way for tourists and one needs to be extra careful around the racecourse. One interesting thing to note about the jockey who has carried the day most on Three Kings Day is that there is a forty-year difference between the first time and the last time he won the Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez, the first time being 1926! His name is Irineo Leguisamo. And he hailed from a city in Uruguay called Salto, just like Luis Suarez the footballer!

The Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez, fondly known as the Ramirez, has also been noted to be the one race that has not had allegations of doping, contention over the winners or any scandal whatsoever, and this is pretty cool is you are a fan of the sport.

Established in 1959, La Rinconada is considered one of the best horseracing venues by fans of the sport, taking its architectural beauty into consideration. It is located south of Caracas and has two 1800m long sand tracks and three stands with a total of 12,500 seats. The racecourse was designed and built with great work going into it. From the engineering design and architecture to the beautiful landscapes and magnificent murals, the construction plans of La Rinconada have influenced a number of other world class horseracing tracks like Ascot in Britain, Belmont Park in the US and Longchamps in France.

Important races at the Hipodromo La Rinconada include the Gran Premio Clásico Simón Bolívar and the Clásico Internacional Propietarios La Rinconada, both Grade 1 races. Others are the Clásico Antonio Jose de Sucre, the Clásico Fuerza Armada Bolivariana, the Clásico Republica de Venezuela and the Copa Internacional Cruz del Avila.

Although betting on horses is legal in Venezuela, the government has a tight leash on the activities surrounding it on the racetracks. This has pushed majority of the betting fans and agencies to illegal cartels to avoid the government’s tight noose, leading to the rise of the illegal gambling cartels. As with everything else, the Mafia is also in the horseracing circles, making it easier for fans and agencies to continue with their betting. But even with rising reports of race-fixing and horse poisoning by the gambling rings in Venezuela, it is reported that the cartels move up to sixty times the amount of money in betting than the state-run gambling agency.

La Rinconada also hosts the Poliedro de Caracas, an indoor sports arena with a capacity of 20,000 people. Boxing, volleyball, ice-skating and basketball tournaments are held here as well as concerts and trade fairs. Its a great melting pot of Venezuelan socio-economic life through the year.

Here at ‘Horses and Courses’ we highlight the racecourses on which racing  legends are made, whether we’re taking about legendary horses , jockeys or trainers. It’s more often than not the big occasions held at these racecourses that really put you in the history books. The Cheltenham Festival, the Royal Ascot, The Grand National and so on. This is especially true of the Grand National as, rather than various races sharing the spotlight, it’s one stand out event. If you win at the National, you’ve set yourself apart, it’s as simple as that.

The Grand National takes place annually at the Aintree racecourse, Liverpool. First run almost 180 years ago, it’s understandable why the race has captured the hearts of racing fans here in the UK as well as abroad. With prize money of £1,000,000 plus, the race draws in a who’s who of group one winners, top jockeys and the best horse trainers. Winning the race is huge.  With horses oozing quality, paired with Grand National jockeys who either knows the course like the back of their hand, or are so skilled as to outfox all others on the day, every Grand National has racing fans on the edge of their seats.

We all remember West Tip winning the National in the mid 80’s, and Mom Mome surprising all with his win at huge odds in 2009. One horse who certainly shone in terms of Grand National successes has to be punter favourite Red Rum , who won the event an unbelievable three times. Very few race goers and lovers of the sport will draw a blank when Red Rum’s name is mentioned, even if they were born well after his impressive wins in 1973, 1974 and 1977. The beauty of Red Rum’s performances is that, while he was always given a hope prior to the race, winning was never a forgone conclusion, which gave punters the opportunity to cash in again and again.

No man is an island as the saying goes, and the same applies to horses, so the focus turns again to Grand National jockeys. Red Rum wouldn’t have been able to achieve this National feat without the efforts of a world class jockey. On two of the three wins Brian Fletcher was the jockey tasked with riding Red Rum to victory. Interestingly he’d won the Grand National previously too, in 1968 as the jockey on Red Alligator at the tender age of 20. In fact, he’s the only jockey in recent times to hold the accolade of winning the event 3 times. Historically the feat was also achieved by Lester Piggott’s Grandfather, Ernie Piggott, and George Stevens.

And what of the trainers that marry this unique combination of equine ability and talented jockey. Well again there is a connection in history, because Red Rum’s trainer is tied first for the greatest number of Grand National wins as trainer with four wins, the three Red Rum wins and an impressive return to form in 2004 with Amberleigh House. Around the same time Fred Rimell also achieved 4 Grand National wins as trainer. Prior to that the only person to equal this record was George Dockeray way back in the 1800’s, so it’s a rare a event by any measure.