Ibiza Sport: Trotting

Published 4 November 2011 Stephen White.

Tags: Ibiza News, Sport, Things to Do

place your bets

Here in the Balearic Islands the sport of trotting, races between horses pulling lightweight carts carrying the driver – called harness racing in some parts of the world – is quite a popular pastime. There are 5 hippodromes on the islands where the sport is actively practices, 2 in Mallorca, 2 in Menorca and here in Ibiza at San Rafael.

Races in Ibiza are held every Sunday and it's quite a day out for all concerned. The hippodrome opens at 11.00 and you can start placing your bets on the runners at 11.30, just to give a bit of added spice to the proceedings! The racing starts at 12.00 and there's a race every half an hour and there are usually between four and seven races every Sunday.

The Balearic Trotting Federation webpage gives details of the races, runners and previous results each week so you can study form before arriving in San Rafael!

If your flutter on the gee gees pays off you can spend your easy earned cash on a Sunday lunch in the Hip's restaurant – 3 courses for only €11. Come to think of it, you don't really need a big win with prices like that!

Giddy up everybody, see you there?

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This is very popular in Mallorca. Businesses sponsor riders for big money here.

pete
Posted by livingInMallorca on 8 November 2011

I'm a fan of the trotting, take the family for a few hours and a few beers. Its very relaxed, free and you get to see some really over weight jockeys.
Good fun but it's complete guess work who will win.
Posted by rewdan on 6 November 2011

Originally Posted by Dave 1:
(Mensaje 1400425)
I can remember the days back in the 80's (before Public Satellite Channels started) when during the cold Winter Months my then local bookie would show such races from the Continent if any UK meetings were called off. Attention however for those who think gambling is safe as it's not for you'll never see a poor bookie but many a broken gambler.
Yes I remember those trots also, Vincennes and Cagnes Sur Mer were two tracks that they took bets from.

You would think you were on a winner until you found out that it had been disqualified for breaking stride, a common problem with trotters.

Bookies are a low level of human existence.......take away all the window dressing and they are dealers of an addiction.
Posted by Bez on 6 November 2011

I can remember the days back in the 80's (before Public Satellite Channels started) when during the cold Winter Months my then local bookie would show such races from the Continent if any UK meetings were called off. Attention however for those who think gambling is safe as it's not for you'll never see a poor bookie but many a broken gambler.
Posted by Dave 1 on 6 November 2011

Take it this runs all year round ? Sounds like a fun thing to go along to, especially as part of a Cool Season visit.
Posted by kimajy on 4 November 2011

i know, though i thought it superfluous detail, rather like the difference between trotters and pacers.
Posted by stephen on 4 November 2011

Yes interesting piece... think I may head up and try my luck some weekend.

Note to editor. the lightweight carts that the drivers ride on are known as sulkies or race bikes.
Posted by Bez on 4 November 2011
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