Page 45 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

A POR TR AIT OF ARGENTINA  43

Gaucho Sports
Horsemanship is an essential component of the gaucho
tradition and lives on in the modern era. There are a
number of gaucho sports, the majority of which involve
doing dangerous stunts with untamed horses.

The sulky
competition is a
popular traditio nal
pursuit in the rich Tradition Day in San Antonio de Areco
Pampas of Buenos Aires offers a chance for gauchos to show off
province. The sulky their equestrian skills. Various competi­
refers to the cart that is tions, such as taming wild horses, keep
attached to the horse. the traditions of rural Argentina alive.

Racing and Show Jumping
Horse racing, known as el turf, is hugely popular in the
country, and the best race tracks can be found in Buenos
Aires. Introduced by immigrant European communities
in the 19th century, show­jumping competitions
through out the country attract thousands of enthusiasts.
Argentinian rider
Matías Albarracín is a
popular contender at
show­jumping events.
Horse shows are staged
at numerous clubs in
Buenos Aires and other
major cities, and take
place weekly from March
to December.

The Hipódromo Argentino in Palermo,
which can accommodate more than
10,000 spectators, is Argentina’s most
important turf venue. The biggest draw of
the year is the Gran Premio Nacional, held
annually in November.
The Argentinian Thoroughbred
Argentina has always had a reputation for breeding
top racehorses, a reputation that was bolstered in 2007
when Argentinian­bred Invasor won the Dubai World
Cup, the world’s richest horse race with prize money
of over US$6 million. Argentinian thoroughbreds, a
distinct breed of horse, not to be confused with the
more general term “purebred,” are usually bred for
racing, though they may also be used for show
jumping, while smaller horses are used for polo.
Naturally athletic and with a good temperament and
plenty of staying power, Argentinian thoroughbreds
are in demand all over the world, with around 200
registered sales in 2006, for example, to destinations Argentinian thoroughbred Invasor trains for the
all across the world, from Singapore to Sydney. Breeders’ Cup Classic, Kentucky

042-043_EW_Argentina.indd 43 05/08/16 10:04 am