Zagreb Hippodrome

Hippodrome Zagreb
LocationKajzerica, Novi Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Owned byCity of Zagreb
Date opened1950
Course typeFlat and harness
Notable racesInternational June Tournament
Official website
Zagreb Hippodrome from Liberty Bridge, Zagreb

Zagreb Hippodrome (Croatian: Zagrebački hipodrom) is a horse racing venue in Zagreb, Croatia. It was built from 1947 to 1950, with a design based on the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. It is located in the neighbourhood of Kajzerica, on the southern bank of the Sava river, near the Bundek lake.[1] The venue covers an area of 47 hectares (120 acres).[2] It was originally built with three racetracks, having lengths of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), 1,600 m (5,200 ft), and 2,400 m (7,900 ft), but the longest track was removed to make space for an indoor riding hall after the 1987 Summer Universiade. A space for steeplechase races is located in the inside area of the smallest track.[1]

Zagreb Hippodrome has been managed by the Zagreb Equestrian Club (Konjički klub Zagreb) since 1952.[1] The most important event at the Hippodrome is the yearly International June Tournament (Lipanjski turnir), which has been held since 1955.[3][4] The venue has been criticised for bad management and track maintenance, and small horse stalls which do not satisfy today's health and safety requirements.[2] The stables hold around 160 horses.[5]

Horse racing

The street where the venue is located was renamed in honour of Radoslav Cimerman, a Croatian horse riding champion who fell from his horse and died in 1974 while training at the Zagreb Hippodrome.[6] In 1994, Pope John Paul II celebrated a mass at the Hippodrome, which was attended by a million people. Pope Benedict XVI also celebrated a mass at the Hippodrome in 2011.[7][8]

  1. ^ a b c "Hipodrom Zagreb". City of Zagreb (in Croatian). Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b Cigoj, Mark (16 July 2017). "PROPAST ZAGREBAČKOG HIPODROMA 'Ovo je groblje za konje! Smeće i gnojivo se gomilaju, derby otkazan, uzgajivači odvode konje u inozemstvo..." Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Zagreb. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Konjički šport". Croatian Encyclopedia (in Croatian). Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  4. ^ Horvat, Karmen (6 June 2008). "PHOTO: Elite Of Croatian Riding At Tournament". Dalje.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  5. ^ Kožul, Dijana (15 May 2012). "Oronuli hipodrom opasan je za konje". Večernji list (in Croatian). Zagreb. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Kći konjičkog šampiona nudi imanje za spas lipicanaca". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 3 August 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  7. ^ Pavičić, Darko (18 December 2010). "I papa Benedikt XVI. misu će služiti na zagrebačkom hipodromu". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Papa Benedikt XVI na Hipodromu okupio tri puta manje ljudi nego Ivan Pavao II". Index.hr (in Croatian). 5 June 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2018.