The Hipódromo and Equestrian Centre of Antela (Sandiás)
The Centro Ecuestre e Hipódromo de Antela, in Sandiás, offers a riding school and hosts flat and harness-trotting races run by the Jockey Club Galicia, with prizes bearing Limia names such as Torre de Pena or Antioquía.
- Place
- Lagoa de Antela, Sandiás
- Organisation
- Jockey Club Galicia / Valdemunde Team
- Races
- flat racing and harness trotting
- School
- first jockey school in Galicia
The Centro Ecuestre de Antela, also called the Hipódromo de Antela, lies on the former bed of the Lagoa de Antela, in the municipality of Sandiás. It is run by Valdemunde Team, an organisation that also maintains the riding school (Club Deportivo Ecuestre de Ourense) and works with the Jockey Club Galicia, which organises the race days [1].
What it offers
According to the Deputación de Ourense’s listing, the centre gives riding lessons for all levels and disciplines, rents out facilities for training outside horses and organises equestrian sporting events: dressage competitions, endurance raids and flat and trotting races at provincial, regional, national and international level. It also collaborates in non-equestrian events, such as cycling, falconry or rugby [1]. The club is federated and has a pony club, school and competition horses, gallop exams (levels 1 to 7) and boarding and breeding services for thoroughbreds [1].
According to the same listing, in 2016 the first jockey school in Galicia was announced, along with six race days of flat and trotting races [1].
The race days
The season has several race days, with events for thoroughbreds, pure-bred Arabs and harness trotting. The Copa Deputación de Ourense de Velocidad, reserved for thoroughbreds born and raised in Galicia, held its second edition in 2018 [2]. Many races carry names tied to A Limia:
- The Premio Torre de Pena and the Premio Torre de Sandiás, harness-trotting races over 1,700 m, evoke the two towers overlooking the former lagoon, between which people once crossed by boat [2].
- The Premio Antioquía, over 1,600 m for Arab horses, recalls the drowned city of the legend [2]. See Antioquía, a cidade asolagada.
- The Premio Gaiola, over 1,600 m for thoroughbreds, and the Premio Lach Corcel, over 1,200 m for pure-bred Arabs [2].
The second race day of the 2019 season was devoted to Galician Literature Day in tribute to Antón Fraguas: each race took the title of one of his works, such as «Galicia insólita» (1973), «Xeografía de Galicia» (1953) or «Do Entroido» (1994) [3].
Links
Sources
- Deputación de Ourense, Deportes, «Centro Ecuestre de Antela / Hipódromo de Antela». https://deportes.depourense.gal/instalacions/centro-ecuestre-de-antela/
- Vía Lethes, «III Jornada de Carreras 2018 en el Hipódromo de Antela» (quote). https://vialethes.es/iii-jornada-carreras-2018-hipodromo-antela
- Concello de Xinzo de Limia, «Segunda xornada de carreiras no Hipódromo de Antela». https://www.xinzodelimia.gal/deportes/segunda-xornada-carreiras-hipodromo-antela/20190515222513003653.html
