THE HORSE RACES OF SANLUCAR DE BARRAMEDA (enjoy this event with www.spainsouthwest.com)

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.
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.

Traditionally, the races take place the second and fourth weeks of August from Thursday to Sunday.
This is a splendid event that attracts people from all over the country and, of course, from beyond Spanish borders as well. It officially dates back to the year 1845 when the the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlucar de Barrameda was formed.
Some time after its beginnings, the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlucar de Barrameda handed this ever more prestigious event over to the town hall for management and it was then included in the town’s summer programme of municipally sponsored events. It became known as one of the most important “fiestas” in the region.

Then, in 1981, the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlucar reformed and took back the reigns of the annual races. According to reports, the event is now better organised than ever. What’s more, the Sanlucar Horse Races are now part of a national series of equine events that include Madrid, San Sebastian and Seville.

Jockey and his thoroughbred, Sanlúcar.

Now the Sanlucar de Barrameda races attract horses and riders from all over Europe. This is not surprising as the stakes are high with total prize monies running between 2 and 3 million euros. Per race winnings run from a few hundred to up to 10,000 euros as of 2008.
Should you with to experience the Sanlucar races live, be sure to book your hotel well in advance and get to the beach as early as possible to stake out a good place for an exciting event held at a unique venue that begins at 6:00 in the evening.
Along the shore of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, these are the oldest official horse races in Spain