Buenos Aires, Argentina – The biggest day of harness racing in Argentina takes place November 12 and 13 with the Grand Prix National weekend of racing at the Hippodrome de Navarro. The feature event will be the Argentine Trot.
The Hippodrome de Navarro is a 1,000-meter track (nearly 5/8th mile) and racing in Argentina features both pacers and trotters. The average speed per race varies from 1:59 to 1:55 for one mile.
Purses average 25,000 pesos or $1,650 per race.
There will be 25 races held over the two-day event headlined by the Argentine Trot, which features the best horses in the country. Below is a list of the top contenders and the tracks they are coming from.
GORA LOOKOUT MARQUINA (Navarro)
FICH LOOKOUT OBLIGADO (Navarro)
CHÚCARO ART'S TANGO (Hurlingham)
CHÚCARO ART'S SURCO (Hurlingham)
GORA ART'S GLOSS (Trenque Lauquen)
GORA LOOKOUT BRINCO (Hurlingham)
GORA LOOKOUT VIENTO (Pilar)
GORA LOOKOUT AGUS (Navarro)
GORA LOOKOUT PEHUAJÓ (PehuajÃ)
LÃTIGO LEGEND FRANCISO (Hurlingham)
GORA LOOKOUT GALICÃ (Arteaga)
GORA LOOKOUT VALENCIA (Lincoln)
GORA LOOKOUT VILO (Hurlingham)
GORA LOOKOUT VIKINGO (Hurlingham)
STAR BLACK AM COLIQUEO (Freyre)
It is estimated that 3,000 fans will come out to the races each day and they have betting on the races through bookies but not pari-mutuel wagering.
Harness racing has been popular in Argentina for more than 100 years.
One of the most famous trainers from Argentina, who came to the United States, is Osvaldo Formia. He first raced in the USA back in 1962, when he brought Argentina’s champion trotter, Thomas Atkins, to race in the International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway.
Formia later moved to the USA and has trained two Hambletonian winners, Harmonious [1990], and Probe [deadheated with Park Avenue Joe in 1989]. He was also the caretaker of two Hambletonian winners, Lindy’s Pride [1969] and Speedy Somolli [1978].
One of the top horses ever to come from Argentina and race successfully in the USA was Chucara Ahijuna. He became a double-gaited world champion, racing both on the trot and the pace and retired to stallion duty with lifetime earnings of $257,253.
By Daniel Barilari for the Hippodrome de Navarro