A century and a half of glory on the dirt: Palermo, the heart that never stops beating

The historic racecourse of the city of Buenos Aires celebrates its 150th anniversary today, surrounded by glory thanks to horse racing

The history of Argentine horse racing cannot be explained without its sacred coordinates, and on this May 7, 2026, the Hipódromo de Palermo reaches a milestone that stirs the soul of any racing fan: 150 years of life. Since that distant 1876, when Buenos Aires was still a project of a metropolis and the alfalfa fields of Juan Manuel de Rosas marked the horizon, the "Circus" on Avenida Libertador has been the stage where dreams are transformed into legends at the finish line.

It all began on swampy land, an untamed reed bed between Parque 3 de Febrero and Belgrano. On that inaugural day, the city overflowed. Trams and trains—which added 50 extra cars—collapsed under the human tide of 10,000 people who wanted to witness the birth of the capital's first formal equestrian center. The victory of Resbaloso in the initial competition marked the first milestone of a track that, over time, would become the most prestigious on the continent.

The arrival of the Jockey Club in 1883, led by Carlos Pellegrini, gave racing the institutional structure it needed. Under his management, the Stud Book was created, the genealogical registry that guards the purity of our bloodlines. Just two years later, in 1885, the Gran Premio Nacional saw the light over 2500 meters. It was a historic afternoon that featured the presence of President Julio Argentino Roca and crowned Souvenir (Blair Adam).

Palermo was not only a cradle of champions but also of architectural and technological vanguard. In 1908, the architect Louis Faure Dujarric replaced the old wood with the French neoclassical style that is today a heritage of all Argentines. Through its grandstands—the Oficial, the Paddock, the Especial...—passed the elegance of the Belle Époque and the passion of the people. It was also a pioneer in racing justice: in 1947 it introduced the photochart to decide head-to-head finishes, and in 1967 electric starting gates replaced the old tapes.

How could one forget the feats that stopped the country's pulse. The match race between Botafogo (Old Man) and Grey Fox (Le Samaritain) in 1918, a rematch that drew 30,000 people and left hundreds hanging from the railroad embankment. Or the figure of Irineo Leguisamo, "El Pulpo," whose magic whip was turned into song by the voice of his friend Carlos Gardel, owner of the unforgettable Lunático (Saint Emilion). In these sands also thundered the hooves of Old Man (Orbit), Yatasto (Selim Hassan), La Mission (Congreve), and Telescópico (Table Play), the horse with which Marina Lezcano broke gender barriers by winning the Quadruple Crown in 1978; or El Serrano(Excel II), the last "Caballo del Pueblo."

Following the state expropriation of 1953 and the subsequent privatization in 1992 under the firm H.A.P.S.A., the racecourse knew how to reinvent itself. The lighting of the track in 1971 paved the way for magical nights, and in 2011 the new turf track added versatility to the cathedral.

Today, Palermo may not hold the same place in the public's heart that it boasted for many years, but it remains a source of pride for all residents of Buenos Aires, a model to follow, and a racecourse that enchants everyone who walks through its courtyards and grandstands.

The Hipódromo de Palermo celebrates its 150th anniversary today as much more than a place for betting. It is the living monument of an identity, the refuge for those who still believe there is no more beautiful music in the world than the gallop of a horse seeking glory at the edge of the finish line; in the dream of having one's own "crack." In the illusion, the friends, and the love for the turf.