This Saturday, June 18, the Spring Grand Prix Festival continues, with a program of seven races to enjoy with friends in the different environments created for leisure in our grandstands, terraces and gardens. The enclosure will open its doors from 6:00 p.m., starting the first race at 6:45 p.m., and will remain open until 1:30 a.m.
The main test is the Claudio Carudel Grand Prix, one of the most emblematic races of our turf. The ‘Rubio de Oro’, that is how Claudio Carudel was known, without a doubt the most famous and laureate of the jockeys who have triumphed in Spain. He had 1,455 wins and led the stats for 18 seasons.
In his honor and in his memory, the Grand Prix that bears his name is held today.
There is almost unanimity among the Spanish fans in declaring Claudio Carudel the best jockey in the history of racing in Spain. He had many qualities, such as his sense of pace, his great regularity, his class… but his success was due above all to his way of approaching the routes and his understanding with the horse, what fans call ‘knowing read the race. He used to say: «The goal is always in the same place and the horses don’t know that, the jockeys know it». Hence, Claudio managed to get the most out of the tours, often waiting until the end to take advantage of the best qualities of his horse.
He arrived in Madrid in 1958, at the age of 19, from Chantilly, one of the racing capitals in Europe, and retired from competition to start training in 1989, at the age of 50. Throughout his career he achieved 1,455 victories out of the 6,164 races he entered. He was awarded the Madrid Grand Prix 12 times, all the category tests on the national calendar and also obtained 55 wins abroad.
In his 32-year journey as a professional jockey in Spain, many were the great horses that Carudel led to victory, but among them Chacal, Wildsun and Teresa stand out, although he always said that probably the best horse that Rosales had was Barilone. He rode as the first jockey for the best stables in the history of the Hippodrome. In his early days, for Villapadierna and Beamonte. Later, for the Rosales stable of the Blasco family, with which he formed an unrepeatable team.
He was the best jockey during the years he was active and, over time, his figure has established himself as the most complete jockey of all those who have developed their professional careers in Spanish racecourses. A true myth that was awarded the Medal of Sports Merit and that for many years was known throughout Spain. And all of Spain knew about the existence of horse racing because of him.
He was already a trainer for the Rosales stable before hanging up the whip, and he continued to be for several years afterwards, achieving important triumphs for other owners. He was later director of the new apprentice school after the reopening of the Madrid racecourse, and advisor to the La Zarzuela Racecourse. He passed away shortly after the dispute of this Grand Prix that bears his name. In La Zarzuela, a bronze sculpture of him welcomes the public at the south door.
The first winner of this prestigious race was Dirce in 2006, there has been no horse that repeated victory, the last winners being Amedeo Modigliani and Turbot, who by the way, will compete again in this new edition.
The afternoon will begin at 6:45 p.m. with the first race, the Premio Martorell (Made in Spain, Bonus Breeze Up), for two-year-old colts and fillies. 1,200 meters straight line, five participants. The top favorite is Petra, the one who has shown the most and has everything to win. Her main rival should be Mrs Pink, she comes from France with good performances and has also been a winner. To complete the trio I see Sweet Baby.
In second place will be the My Morne Award for three-year-old colts and fillies that have not won. Thirteen candidates for victory. 1,800 meters of travel. A race with a very difficult prediction due to the number of participants and because none of them have stood out enough, which makes it very prone to surprises. Anyway, the ones I like the most and in this order are Corvera, Izaskun, Violetta and Capoeira.
The third race will be the Dual Sea Prize (Claim), for horses and mares three years old and older, to be sold at 15,000, 18,000 and 21,000 euros. Nine candidates for victory will start from the 1,800 meter pole. My favorite is Mexico City, it is the one with the highest value of the lot and the distance benefits it. He should be the horse to beat. Pelliquero, Elamirr and Tihanna will be his main enemies.
In fourth place will be the Grand Prize Claudio Carudel (sponsored by Santander Private Banking (Made In Spain) (Lototurf), for colts and fillies aged three and over. Twelve of the best ‘milleros’ of our turf will meet in this prestigious race. 1,600 meters separate the participants from the glory. A test framed in the Made In Spain program with prizes for the horses born and raised in Spain. An edition that is expected to be very exciting and open, since it has the participation of thirteen copies, among which stands out as favorites:
Turbot: 5-year-old horse with a brilliant resume, of the 11 races he has played, 6 wins and 4 placements. In 2020 he won the Poule and was second in the GP of La Hispanidad and in the GP Antonio Blasco; he holds the title of best miller 2021 by winning this same test, as well as later also winning a Group 3 in Germany and later the Antonio Blasco.
Simply Striking: 6-year-old horse with 33 starts, 6 as winner and 20 as placed. He visits us from France under the orders of coach Mauricio Delcher Sánchez, he arrives in very good shape after running three times this year in which he has been first, third and second.
Hangover: 6 years. 23 performances, 5 wins and 12 placements. In his history, he has victories at the Torre Arias and the Antonio Blasco in 2019, and at the 2021 La Hispanidad GP. He has been third in the 2019 and 2020 Carudel.
Maracay: She is an excellent mare that at 4 years old has competed 11 times, winning 6 and placing 3. Her most notable victories are: the 2020 Breeders’ Cup; the Optional, the Poule, the Oaks and the National GP in 2021, as well as being second and third in Listing in France.
Star of Bengal: 7-year-old horse that has 4 wins among his 14 track starts. In 2021 he won the GP Duque de Alburquerque, was second for Carudel, and third for Listed at Vichy. He has been re-enlisted for this career which will be his comeback.
In fifth place will be the Richal Prize (sponsored by Exterior Plus), a reference handicap for horses and mares three years and older. Eight contenders for victory over the distance of 1,600 meters. Very close race with several participants with the option of winning. Personally, the one I like the most is Adaaylight Dancer, of her five races in the year, she just didn’t appear in the trio in her last one, she does the distance very well, I see her in the fight. Galindo recovered sensations with his victory, he does the distance very well, conditions to repeat. Belador and Tannhauser will also be very close.
The sixth race will be the Takala Prize, a benchmark handicap for horses and mares three years and older. A 1,200-meter sprint in a straight line with eight participants. Harrison Point and Derdas are my favorites, they are distance specialists and very fit. Roadrunner and Something also do the distance very well and will not forgive any mistakes.
The day will close, in seventh place, with the Ade de Fuego Prize, a reference handicap, for horses and mares three years and older, over the distance of 1,200 metres. Twelve candidates for victory, under the orders of the starter. Upsdawn’s only victory was in fiber, the distance may be somewhat short, but he is warning that he is here to win. He will make it very difficult. Sam Bellamy is running in a very gray way, but he really likes the fiber and is in a position to improve, he will fight. Ideally, he hasn’t raced in a long time, but he loves the track and does the distance very well. He will be close. Premiere Rhapsodie and Kakarot can also be dangerous.
The afternoons-nights of the racecourse have a wide range of gastronomy and cocktails. At the Villa Panthera Terrace you can live the experience of a Japanese fusion restaurant. To access the area you will have to buy your ticket at Panthera Madrid. In the northern area, you will also find the new Champagne Bar Clicqout gourmet area, where you can mix Clicquout Champagne.
In the central grandstand, do not miss the tapas and portions of Estribo by Ucalsa and of course, our foodtruks will not be missing in our gardens.
At the end of the races in the south garden you can’t miss our live music group “La banda de los 80”, which will make us move our skeletons remembering the great successes of Spanish pop.
The broadcast of the horse races of the Hippodrome of Madrid can be enjoyed on Movistar. The Las Carreras program is broadcast exclusively through the Deportes por M channels (dial 53 and its multis).
Furthermore, the channel
In the enclosure there are more than 2,000 free parking spaces, and also free buses leaving from 10:30 a.m. every 20 minutes as a shuttle from Paseo Moret in Moncloa. (If events in the capital do not allow departure from that point, it is moved to Avda. de la Complutense, in front of the Ciudad Universitaria metro).
