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SPANISH RACING
Mauricio Delcher Sánchez receives a hero’s homecoming at La Zarzuela after Equiano’s Royal Ascot win the rest of the racing world, but now they will take us more seriously! ”
PUTTING MADRID ON THE RACING MAP For the officials of La Zarzuela, which re-opened its gates in 2005 after a closure of
almost ten years, Equiano’s victory is also a sign of a change in the fortunes of racing in the capital. Gregorio Máñez Vindel, President of the racecourse, says, “We are very proud that a horse trained here has been so successful. Our industry is in the process of reconstruction after having practically died out. Our activity only
recommenced two years ago and we already have almost 800 horses in training here in Madrid. The performance of Equiano bodes well for the future”. The origins of the sport, or “el Turf” as it is known on the Iberian Peninsula, date back to 1835 when the Duke of Osuna organised the first races on his estate close to Madrid.
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