Racetrack

San Isidro Racecourse

Founded in 1935

San Isidro Racecourse is one of the most important Thoroughbred venues in South America, located in San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province. Inaugurated on 8 December 1935 by Jockey Club Argentino, it features a 2,783-metre turf course —the longest in the country— and a 2,590-metre dirt course. It hosts the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, the headline race of the Argentine racing calendar.

Traditional races

2 races on record in Turfdex

G1

2 races

Tracks

2 tracks on record

  • Surface:
    Turf
    Perimeter:
    2,783 m
    Direction:
    Left-handed

    Main turf course, 45 metres wide. The longest in the country, it allows 1,000-metre straight sprints.

  • Surface:
    Dirt
    Perimeter:
    2,590 m
    Direction:
    Left-handed

    Dirt course, 31 metres wide. With an inner bend the layout reduces to 2,200 metres.

Racetrack history

San Isidro Racecourse opened on 8 December 1935, founded by Jockey Club Argentino on the 316-hectare site of the former Aguirre farm, acquired in 1926 in San Isidro, 22 kilometres north of the City of Buenos Aires. On opening day Uruguayan jockey Irineo Leguisamo won the very first race held at the new venue.

Taking advantage of the size of the land, an oval course was built measuring 2,783 metres in length and 45 metres in width —the longest in Argentina—, allowing 1,000-metre straight races. A 2,590-metre dirt course, 31 metres wide, was added later; with an inner bend it reduces to 2,200 metres. Around the main course are training tracks, stables and a veterinary hospital, all set within parks. Before the racecourse opened, two 18-hole golf courses designed by Alister Mackenzie were already in use (opened to the public in 1930); the Golf Club House and the first two polo fields —of the current seven— were added in 1940.

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One of San Isidro's signatures is its capacity: the grounds can hold 100,000 spectators. In 1952, during the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, it set its historic attendance record at 102,600, witnessing Branding's victory.

Between 1958 and 1976 the Jockey Club reported difficulties sustaining the venue and the national government took over its administration. It closed on 25 May 1976 and was donated back to the Jockey Club in 1977 by decree of the de facto president Jorge Rafael Videla. After fourteen months of modernisation work —including a 597-machine electronic tote and a new lighting system—, it reopened on 8 December 1979 under Jockey Club management. In 1993 a new tote system was added, and in subsequent years closed-circuit TV and over 180 monitors were installed for race coverage.

San Isidro hosts 15 Group 1 races on the IFHA Blue Book and stages around 120 race meetings a year. The calendar centres on three flagship days: the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini in December —closing the international season and the Quadruple Crown—, the Gran Premio Jockey Club in October as part of the Triple Crown, and the 25 May meeting with three simultaneous G1s. The venue has also hosted the Gran Premio Latinoamericano in 1982, 1992, 1998, 2005, 2011 and 2020, and music festivals such as Lollapalooza Argentina since 2014, plus concerts by Beyoncé (2010) and David Gilmour (2015).

Sources

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