by Nicki McIntyre

I’m sure there are some who get lucky in Madrid on Saturday night. But those in the know, head to where the real action happens on Sunday afternoons. The Hipódromo de la Zarzuela, just beyond Moncloa, is hosting the 2008 horseracing season. 

Parking is free, but if you’re without wheels, fear not. A free, continuous bus service runs out of Paseo Moret, in addition to the 654, 655 and 658 leaving Moncloa.

General Admission is €9 (You can buy these at the gate upon arrival or in advance at http://www.entradas.com). In my opinion, you’ve got to bet at least the cost of entrance- then you’ve got a chance to break even. And it makes the whole experience way more exciting.

Every Sunday the gates open at 10, with the first race beginning at 11:15. There are about 7 races a day, (usually 30min between each) and the last race is at 14:30. So yes, you’ll have to tear yourself out of bed, perhaps suffering a hangover from the night befores’ debaucheries, but some fresh air will do you good.

The spring season runs every Sunday until the 29 June, including Thursday the 15^th of May. Summer season runs every Thursday from the 19 of June until the 24^th of July. Then racing returns in the fall, September 4^th to the 25^th. The biggest prize races take place in June, so keep in mind you might want to buy in advance.

My amateur tip is to bet on an Irish horse. I learnt the hard way, losing to them in every race. The name game lost me €15 (I thought I couldn’t possibly go wrong with Going Crazy in the 1400m, 5^th?). The last 300m is the best as you see them coming around the turn. There’s a build up of emotion and buzz in the crowd. Men in suits are following the race with their binoculars, the women are cheering and kids, taking a break from organizing their own races, are sticking their noses through the spaces in the fence, and wondering what is making their parents so excited.

I recommend a BYO policy. A picnic on the beautiful lawn offers a great view and brings you right in front of the action. Beware the smell of the hotdogs: they will cost you more than losing a race.

For more information, check out the official site: http://www.hipodromodelazarzuela.es/WebPortal/HZ/Paginas/Home.page

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 5:26 pm and is filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.