Horse Racing in the Dominican Republic

[NALs]

A little known fact among expats is that the Dominican Republic has its own official horse racing association. It also has the V Centenario Racecourse, the only one in the country and on the island. In the subregión, including Central America, there are an additional 5 racecourses: 1 in Puerto Rico, 1 in Jamaica, 1 in Barbados, 1 in Trinidad & Tobago, and 1 in Panama. There was 1 in Cuba too, but Fidel Castro closed it when his revolution took over the island. Hopefully, Cuba will again have one too. Perhaps the DR can use one more racecourse, this time in Santiago considering that the city has more people than Santo Domingo when the first racecourse was built in the country (Perla Antillana which used to be where currently is the Plaza de la Salud, that's the reason why Ortega y Gasset Avenue has a slight turn in the area; PA was replaced by V Centenario in the 1990's. While PA was built by Trujillo, V Centenario was built by Balaguer). The other fact is that the Cibaopopulation is now bigger than the population of the entire DR when Perla Antillana was built.

As expected, betting is allowed and tournaments are held constantly, plus aired on Dominican radio and television (and apparently online too).

The V Centenario Racecourse is supposedly one of the most active in the subregion and is located in Santo Domingo Este.


In the following video is of a minute of silence commemoration for Simón Alfonso Pemberton (the bust is of him), who was one of the racecourse narrator and died this year. Part of the V Centenario Racecourse is shown.

Simón Alfonso Pemberton (right) died in March 2021 from old age.

Simon Alfonso Pemberton acomañado por su eterno amigo y compañero de labores Cesar Medina - Manolitoenelplay.com

manolitoenelplay.com

Some of the trophies given to the owners of winning horses. This one is for the Francisco del Rosario Sánchez Classic tournament.

Francisco del Rosario Sánchez is one of the three fathers of the DR.

 

[windeguy]

You are correct! I never heard of this before.

But then, I hate Santo Domingo.

(I grew up rather close to Saratoga, NY. Lovely place that is known for this sport of kings. I used to like to go there, but not for the horses.)

 

[JD Jones]

You are correct! I never heard of this before.

But then, I hate Santo Domingo.

(I grew up rather close to Saratoga, NY. Lovely place that is known for this sport of kings. I used to like to go there, but not for the horses.)

Here was no different. I remember when V Centenario was built. I went a few times but got bored of watching the horses but the bored girls who went with some of them were jaw droppers.

 

[LTDan]

at the wire!!!!!, it's cabbage by a head!!!!

 

[monfongo]

you don't think their would be any fixing going on there do you ?

 

[NALs]

Today's Listín Diario has a story about the native of Samaná and president of the Constitutional Tribunal, Magistrate Milton Ray Guevara, suggesting that horse races that takes place at the DR's only official horse racetrack (V Centenario) should be promoted to tourists. He understands it could become one more touristic point of interest. Until now this has never been promoted to tourists. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if many are shocked to learn the DR has an official horseracing track. Though the DR is one of the few countries in the Caribbean with an official horse racetrack, this has always be focused on Dominicans. He uses as an example the years he lived in France receiving his university education that horse races were an exciting event with much following by the people and an attraction to tourists. He himself follows the sport since his younger days in Samaná.

Guevara is the guy in a yellow shirt in the photo.

 

[monfongo]

I can't imagine the amount of fixing that goes on there.

 

[NALs]

Typical ambiance before and during a horse races. As has always been the case (even during the times of the Perla Antillana Racetrack), most fanatics follow these games in the media (radio, etc). No need to be present at the racetrack to bet. In fact, they take bets even from other countries. lol

Typical morning horses exercises to keep them in shape for the horse races.

If you think Dominican jockeys are men only, think again. Here is sn interview with one of the women jockeys, Felicia Leclerc. She has one seversl horse races too.

Beautiful horses before a race at the racetrack.

Typical ambiance in the stand during a horse race.

 

[NALs]

The horses pool at the V Centenario Racetrack.

 

[RDKNIGHT]

you don't think their would be any fixing going on there do you ?

lmaoooo

 

[NALs]

Today's horse races have an accumulated poolpate of over RD$4 million (+/- US$74K). Horse races are every Tuesday and Saturday. The betting minimum is RD$36 (about US$0.67).

The first of today's races will be around 3:30pm, the sixth race (last one) at 6:00pm.

After reviewing all the betting/places that follow horse racing in the country, I'm amazed not one place is in Sosua considering all the bars that exist there. Maybe the owner of a bar or two should apply to become an official betting place for the V Centenario Racetrack. The closest one to Sosúa is in Puerto Plata. On the other hand, there is one in Boca Chica.

Horses that will be running in today's races.

 

[Lucifer]

Hah!

I bet Mr. AE remembers when horserace announcers would describe the location of the horses, as they would make their way around "la curvita de la Paraguay."

Those were the days, my friend, when Brilladora and Hasty Hillary ruled at Perla Antillana.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hah!

I bet Mr. AE remembers when horserace announcers would describe the location of the horses, as they would make their way around "la curvita de la Paraguay."

Those were the days, my friend, when Brilladora and Hasty Hillary ruled at Perla Antillana.

OMG you just reawakened memories for him. I just had a reenactment of Pemberton (and later Reynoso, who didn’t measure up, in his opinion) 😊
Apparently Pemberton used to also call the Bingo numbers at the hall in La Feria. I went there a few times in mid - late 70s before we had kids.