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Sanlúcar de Barrameda Horse Races
By m.p. - Aug 7, 2007 - 8:36 AM
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And they are off! - The horses on the beaches of Sanlúcar de Barrameda - Photo Ayuntamiento webpage
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Along the shore of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, these are the oldest official horse races in Spain
The oldest officially-regulated horse race which still exists in Spain today was held on the beach in 1845 in one of the three towns of Cádiz province which, together with Jerez de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa María, make up the world-famous sherry triangle: Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Lying in the northwest of Cádiz province, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Sanlúcar de Barrameda has a long history which dates back to pre-Roman times. It was later the site of a defensive fort during the Moorish occupation, and, once retaken by the Castilian monarchy, was first a major trading port and then one of the points of departure for the conquistadores after the discovery of the New World.
Christopher Columbus set sail from Sanlúcar on his third voyage in 1498. Another historical departure came in 1519, when the explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, set sail with 270 men on his attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

According to tradition, the Carreras de Caballos owe their origins to the informal races which used to take place between the owners of the working horses which were used to transport fish from the former port of Bajo de Guía to the local markets and other nearby towns.

The first race was organised by an association which was set up specifically to promote the Andalucía breed of horse, the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It has been held almost without interruption ever since, and now straddles the festivities held in honour of the town’s patron saint, Nuestra Señora de la Caridad Coronada.

This annual race on the flat southern sands of this part of Andalucía is today renowned all over the world, and has been classed as International Tourism Interest since 1997. The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, is Honorary President of the Racing Club.

The races take place every August, and are spread over two separate three-day events.
At low-tide at the mouth of the Guadlquivir River, just as the sun is setting, and with the marshes of the Doñana National Park as the backdrop across the other side of the river.

The racehorses run for distances ranging between 1.2 and 2 kilometres, while a crowd of thousands watches jockeys from Spain and elsewhere in Europe resplendent in their racing colours as the horses’ hooves pound across the wet sands. There is official betting, with an unofficial system run by children on the side, and total prize money running into the millions.

The largest purse is awarded during the last weekend of the races, for the first horse to cross the line in the two kilometre stretch in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Sanlúcar.


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