On August 14 in Sanlúcar de Barrameda the famous horse races on the beach will begin

On August 14 in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cadiz, Andalusia) will start the oldest horse races in Spain — Sanlúcar de Barrameda Horse Races. They have been held since 1845 and are considered the most interesting summer event on the southern beaches. The races are also declared an Andalusian holiday of national and international tourist interest

The races are held on the beach of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, in the vicinity of Doñana National Park. The competition takes place in two cycles, each of which lasts 3 days. The first will take place on August 14, 16 and 17, and the second from August 28 to 30. The schedule of races is published the day before on the organizers’ website carrerassanlucar.es. They usually start after 18:00, during low tide. There are 3 to 5 races per day.

Before the start of the races, security personnel install a special grid. It separates the wet sand area, where the horses will race, from the dry area where the spectators are. Entrance to this area is free of charge. And to get to the finish area, where the grandstands are arranged and bars and betting shops are located, you need to buy a ticket on the organizers’ website. You can also buy a pass at the ticket office at the entrance. It opens one hour before the start of the first race. 

Sanlúcar de Barrameda Horse Races attract riders from all over Europe. And it’s no wonder, as the winnings amount to more than 10,000 euros. In 2024, 159 entries were received for the 12 races of the first cycle. There will be 71 horses competing on August 14, 16 and 17.

The exact number of entrants for the second cycle is not yet known, but there are 27 entries for the two top prizes. Thirteen horses will compete for the €10,200 award, which will be drawn on August 28, and 14 horses will compete for the Gran Premio Ciudad de Sanlúcar of €13,600.

Each evening after the races are over, you can enjoy a stunning sunset on the beach and then join the celebrations in town. 

Restaurants in Sanlúcar de Barrameda are renowned for their fresh fish and seafood dishes, which we recommend complementing with a bottle of local Manzanilla sherry.

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Photo Bec_Frank from flickr.com