Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo
Encyclopedia
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| Location | Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent... , Argentina Argentina Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires... |
| Race type | Thoroughbred Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed... - Flat racing Flat racing Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles... |
Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo is located in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. One of the most prominent horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
venues in Argentina, its installations include a 2400 meter (1.5 mile) track suitable for races in all weather.
The establishment was founded on May 7, 1876, as the first racecourse in Buenos Aires, and the first National Derby
Derby (horse race)
A derby is a type of horse race, named after the Derby Stakes, still run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in England. That was in turn named for Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, who inaugurated the race in 1780...
was held there in 1884.
On its inauguration, the trains and streetcars of Buenos Aires were not enough to transport the large number of people who wanted to attend the event. However, close to 10,000 people witnessed the first race ever disputed at the Hipódromo, which was won by the horse "Resbaloso".
A sales floor for racing thoroughbreds, Tattersall de Palermo, was opened in 1898.
The original viewing stands were replaced by a Beaux Arts tribune designed by Louis Faure-Dujarric, in 1908.
The Hipódromo introduced a technology named "Photochart" in 1947. Photochart was a photographic device that registered the precise moment when the horses crossed the end line, thus simplifying the selection of the winner in neck-and-neck outcomes.
The Hipódromo de Palermo was renamed Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo in 1953.
The addition, in 1971, of an electrical lighting system on the racetrack enabled night racing.