The Moscow Hippodrome is one of few monuments to Soviet architecture that have kept the smallest elements of the appearance of the building’s facades, halls, and tribunes and continues to perform its primary functions.
Scroll down to see more
Lori/Legion-Media
The Moscow Hippodrome is one of few monuments to Soviet architecture that have kept the smallest elements of the appearance of the building's facades, halls, and tribunes and continues to perform its primary functions. Races and other spectator events continue to be held here regularly.
RIA Novosti
The Central Moscow Hippodrome is one of the biggest hippodromes in Russia and is the oldest in Europe.
RIA Novosti
Its history dates back to August 1, 1834, when the first trotting race was held in Khodynka Field. In the year that the hippodrome was opened, there were only 2 racing days and 12 race horses.
RIA Novosti
Between 1889-1894, the Race Pavilion was built. It is the Moscow Hippodrome's main building designed by the architects Baryutin and Kulagin.
RIA Novosti
The hippodrome's field is in the shape of a large oval with a concrete podium, fountain bowl, booths for staff, and devices for horse competitions.
Lori/Legion-Media
The main building was reconstructed in the 1950s by one of the Soviet Union's most famous architects, the academic Ivan Zholtovsky.
Lori/Legion-Media
In Soviet times, races were especially popular. Trotting horses set more than a few records here and all of the capital's gentry gathered here. Gamblers played the sweeps here completely legally.
Lori/Legion-Media
Today, the sweeps' income, excluding the costs for running it, is completely applied to supporting and developing horse breeding in Russia.
Lori/Legion-Media
But the Moscow Hippodrome is not just for gambling. Since 1997, a youth sports school has worked here and other sports events are held here in addition to races: jumping, dressage, and ring broods for thoroughbred horses.
Lori/Legion-Media
The Moscow Hippodrome is also an experimental and scientific arena. It's an experimental base for the horse breeding division of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute and a school for horseback riding has been opened at the hippodrome.
RIA Novosti
Tests and races are held at the hippodrome every weekend. The most important and costliest prizes for trotting horses play out at the hippodrome. The main ones are the All-Russia Derby Prize and the All-Russia Barsa Prize.
Lori/Legion-Media
Camel and dog races, dogsledding races, pony competitions and even car races are occasionally held at the Moscow Hippodrome in between horse competitions to entertain spectators.
