Manacor is not only famous for being the birthplace of Rafa Nadal, the ATP number one ranking tennis player and five times Roland Garros champion, but also for its horses, as in trotting races or harness racing. Manacor runs one of the two existing hipòdroms on the island; the other one being Son Pardo, in Palma de Mallorca. Son Maciá, near Marratxí, another race course which I referred to only yesterday, existed until 1917, when the hipòdrom de Bons Aires was built. Bons Aires ceased to exist and was finally replaced by Son Pardo, some 45 years ago.

The hipodrome in Manacor was inaugurated on April 3rd, 1960 (see photo centre) with the blessing of the bisbe (bishop) of Mallorca.

Yesterday, the Gran Diada Hípica was celebrated in Manacor, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Gran Premi de Manacor (Manacor Grand Prix). The President of the Consell de Mallorca, Francina Armengol, was present when Trébol, the triumphant horse, took 9,000 € in winnings. Trébol already won the Gran Premi Nacional in Palma’s Son Pardo, four weeks ago. Enhorabuena!

In the photo (below) you can find all the Gran Premi de Manacor winners since 1960, if you can be bothered.

The photos were taken in Manacor, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: June 13th, 2010. The time was 13:35:10, 13:41:52 and 13:37:46, respectively.