Sanlúcar august shines a light on a top cultural event, its famous horse races, a top priority not to be missed, Although, for the past several years, I have done just that.

Well, not this year! This year (2022) I was going to attend the 177th addition of the Sanlúcar Horse Race. This was my year! 

Thus the organizing began, a daunting task even though I work in tourism. What originally started with just a couple of people turned into a group event. But, with the help of the handy dandy internet and local feedback, here is everything you need to know about the Sanlucar horse races.

Here is an overview of what I found out after doing some digging. Everything you need to know about the Sanlúcar horse race!

1. Basic Info You Should Know

The races are planned around the low tides and are divided into two cycles. Normally the first cycle (primero ciclo) of races is at the begging of the month and the second cycle (segundo ciclo) is at the end of the month. This year (2022) the first cycle was on August 9, 10, and 11 and the second cycle took place on August 23, 24, and 25. The dates are typically announced in January which gives you plenty of time to plan. The second cycle is the more popular races which normally means larger crowds.

You can find the calendar of local festivals and cultural events for Sanlúcar de Barrameda here.

This year, 80 different pure breed horses raced in 20 different races divided over 6 days. 

Booths are set up along the beach for people to place bets on the different horses.

2. The Races

The races are between 1.4 – 2km. The prizes consist of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place. There are races for jockeys (professionals), gentlemen (amateurs), and riders, in which they can win a medal and trophy.

However, it is the cash prizes donated by companies, entities, and institutions of the region that everybody is racing for. These range from a minimum of 360€ to a maximum of 7,000€ depending on the race.

For the G.P de Andalucía, the price can be as high as 10,000€ for 1st place. 

The riders wear distinctive colors and caps, so you can recognize them as they race by. 

3. History Behind The Horse Races

The horse races in Sanlúcar are the oldest horse races in Spain and some of the oldest in Europe. The first sanctioned races were in 1845 with the establishment of the ‘Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar de Barrameda’ or the Royal Horse Riding Society of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Thus making the races the first-ever regulated horse races in all of Spain. 

However, this tradition started long before. There are two main theories of where the races came from. The first one was that the races began among the fishermen of the village who would race their freshly caught fish to the fish market in the morning as a fun sport. The second proclaims that the races began between the noblemen and farmers as they would test the strength of their horses. 

Either way, they were a part of Sanlúcar‘s history long before they were officially acknowledged. This historic event was declared an International Tourist Interest in 1997 and only takes place here in the south of Spain. 

4. Where Do The Horse Races Take Place

The races can be seen from two of the more popular Sanlúcar beaches: 

• Bajo de Guia – Av. Bajo de Guía 11540 Sanlúcar de Barrameda Cádiz
• Las Piletas – Av. de las Piletas, 111, 11540 Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz

You can either watch the races from the beach (free) or from the stands and boxed seats (paid).

BUYING TICKETS

Watching the races from the event tent/stands requires a ticket that can be purchased online or at the entrance. The ticket usually costs between 9-14€ or if you prefer being less formal you can watch the races FOR FREE down on the beach (added benefit, you can go in swimwear). 

Parking: Typically the fields next to the beach are opened up as parking lots. It will cost around 2-4€ CASH to park so make sure you bring some extra coins. Normally, it is located behind the treatment plant of Sanlúcar – C. Fray Isidoro de Sevilla, 22, 11540 Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz

5. When Do The Races Take Place

The Races start in the evening when the tide is at its lowest. This way the horses have a wide and ample shore to run on. Normally, the first race will start around 18:30 and the last race is set to happen at the same time as the sunset, around 21:30. 

6. Who Is In Charge Of The Races

The races are organized by the ‘Real Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar de Barrameda’ or ‘Royal Horse Riding Society of Sanlúcar de Barrameda’. They have been around for almost a decade and a half.

Their official website in English is https://eng.carrerassanlucar.es/.

Their contact details are the following:

Las Piletas Avenue. 11540 Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Telephone: 956 363 202  info@carrerassanlucar.es

7. Why Go To The Races

Why should you go? The real question is why wouldn’t you, it is a lot of FUN and it is in a lovely setting! The beach is situated near the mouth of the historic Guadalquivir river and across the opposite shore stretch the wetlands of the Doñana National Park as far as the eye can see. Thousands of people and celebrities come from all over the world to see the races, sometimes as many as 50,000.

Tickets and formal attire are required of the tent/stand goers which provides a more upscale setting, inclusive of private bars, a big-screen tv, and restrooms. Ready cash is essential for placing bets.

Those who choose the beach normally go in beach wear and are not required to purchase a ticket. Traditionally locals will head down midday and set up camp while they wait for the horse races to start in the evening. Don’t forget to bring cash, because if you decide to choose to place a bet you will need some coins.

Sanlúcar de Barrameda is highly acclaimed for its gastronomy and was named the Gastronomical Capital of Spain in 2022.

The Races provide an opportunity to cruise its boardwalk Bajo de Guia, and sample a variety of tapas including its renowned langostinos or prawns, paring with the local wine, Manzanilla, which makes for a unique local experience.

Post-race parties continue into the evening. The Palcos or private tents provide drinks and tapas for ticket holders. They are set up during the second cycle so that those who attended can go after the race for a drink and/or tapa. If you decided to watch the races for free like me, don’t worry because many of the chiringuitos (beach bars) will have bands of DJs playing music. The locals and tourists are more than excited to celebrate the winnings and/or losses of the horse races, with concerts and dancing till dawn.