On Easter Sunday, this year’s horse racing season kicks off at Kincsem Park with the traditional opening race day. After a four-month winter break, the world’s fastest horses, the English Thoroughbreds, once again line up at Hungary’s only racecourse.
The facility’s managing director Ádám Szotyori Nagy stated on the M1 news channel on Thursday that competitors in the disciplines of gallop, greyhound, and trotting will take to the track at Kincsem Park. The season’s first day will feature eight races, starting with galloping. He pointed out that the highlight for three-year-old horses is the Derby.
As he mentioned, there will be two international race days in the season: one being the Donau Derby on 4 August, and the other being the main event, the Kincsem Prize, on 8 September. Last year, competitors also came from England, indicating an increase in the competition’s standard. This year, international participants are also expected from neighbouring countries: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, and England.
Szotyori Nagy spoke about the Austrian Donau Derby race, which will take place for the first time on 4 August this season, calling it a tremendous sports diplomacy success. He said: ‘In Central and Eastern Europe, over the past 150 years, this race has been the Wimbledon of tennis.’ The managing director recalled that the anniversary of the birth of the Hungarian racing horse named Kincsem was celebrated a few days ago, and this celebration will accompany the entire year. He emphasized that it is a great joy and honour that
the Central Bank of Hungary (MNB) issued commemorative coins for the 150th anniversary of Kincsem’s birth,
valued at 3,000 and 15,000 forints. He said the miracle mare competed in 54 races and won the same number of them, which is unparalleled in history, and it is the reason why the racecourse is also named after the horse.
The managing director highlighted that there are developments and innovations this year, such as turf races, which will be available from the first day of the season. This provides an opportunity for competitors and horses to not only try themselves on synthetic, sandy tracks but also on turf, and get used to the ground. He emphasized that due to the infrastructure and excellent ground,
Kincsem Park has the best track in Central and Eastern Europe.
He also talked about continuous actions to increase racing enthusiasm, aiming to help trainers and owners reduce costs, in the hope that this will lead to an increase in horse numbers and, simultaneously, the standard, as well as improving betting interest.
On public Kossuth Radio, Szotyori Nagy pointed out that besides horse races, various themed events are also awaiting visitors throughout spring and summer, taking into account both entertainment and sports professionalism. He stated that since the coronavirus pandemic, the number of spectators has been steadily increasing, thanks to the growing popularity of horse racing and betting, while other programmes, festivals, and children’s activities also attract audiences. As he noted, admission to Kincsem Park will be free this Sunday and at the featured events.
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Sources: Hungarian Conservative/M1/Kossuth Radio
