Trotter (1995)

Horse racing in Hungary was established by István Szécheny back in 1822. In 1883 trotter field in Kerepesi út was opened, where the first Hungarian Trotter Derby was announced the following year. In 1905 the modern race field was opened. Budapest has always had races since then which have risen to incredible heights. Several Hungarian horses won international races and hit European records. It can be stated without any exaggeration that Hungarian breeding was on the first place in those days.

After the 1st World War inflation hardened restarting the races, but a derby was run in 1924 again. Standards of breeding was again in the European van, but never reached the ones before the 1st World War. The new race field in Kerepesi út was inaugurated in 1933 and it served trotter sports for 70 years. After the second World War hopeless circumstances had to be pulled through. While there were 409 horses ready to be trained in 1944, only 36 of them could be searched for the opening of 26th August in 1945.

There was a rather slow progress in the years of socialism, however we were only lagging behind Europe. After the changover odd privatisation executed bore ambivalent results. Stable was significantly improving, although it was still bringing up the rear in international standards, but at least the ones ahead of us came within sihgt. Attendance of the races and the zest for betting decreased hard. The field in Kerepesi út was a rarity, as it was working in the heart of a megacity, still in a remote place. The building was the greatest and one of the most beautiful products of Hungarian bauhaus. Moreover, the running field was laying right next to the viewing area, which made it possible not only to observe the races properly, but to create a close interaction between the riders and the audience.

The last race was held in Kerepesi út on 29th May 2004. Horses, riders and races altogether were moved to Kincsem Park. In place of the trotter, considered to be the most beautiful and modern at its opening in 1933, a shopping centre was built by the French Bouygues. The place which was the scene of horses trotting and racing saw the building of a 30 thousand-square metre, three-level shopping centre and a hotel of 500-600 beds – a 30 billion-forint investment. Now the only thing resembling the trotter is the renovated stand protected by the historical monuments act in Kerepesi út.