Merano Hippodrome
THE ORIGINAL MERANO RACECOURSE


It was on 7 April 1886 that the first horse races in Merano/Meran were staged on the green lawns of the former Grand Hotel Meranerhof. An unexpectedly large number of spectators turned up to watch three heats: a Haflinger (a local breed of farm horse) gallop, a men's, and a mixed race. The participants of that very first gallop race were actually farmers dressed in traditional apparel, a custom which persists even today. The Haflinger Gallop Race is held on Easter Monday.
HORSE RACING IN MERANO


After the outbreak of the First World War, horse racing in Merano immediately came to a standstill but by the end of the war a different order had taken over. The Italian Fascist authorities commissioned architect Paolo Vietti Violi to design a new race track, which was inaugurated on 30 August 1935. With its grandstands built in the typical rationalist style, the first “Corsa dei milioni” race took place on 20 October 1935. Now known as the “Grand Prix of Merano”, this competition still continues today.
Merano Racecourse
Merano Racecourse
The Maia Racecourse is one of the most beautiful in Europe. There are two seasons of steeplechasing and other horse races from April to September On the last ...
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DID YOU KNOW?

• The Merano Thermal Baths lie on the same site as the former Grand Hotel Meranerhof.

• The Merano tennis courts and campsite are on the old site of the former Merano-Maia sports arena, where the first football match in South Tyrol was staged on 28 April 1901. Golf, tennis, polo, and hockey games all took place at the old sports arena.

• Occupying 40 hectares and with a five-kilometre racetrack the Merano race course is one of the largest horse racing courses in Europe.
• The Merano Thermal Baths lie on the same site as the former Grand Hotel Meranerhof.
• The Merano tennis courts and campsite are on the old site of the former Merano-Maia sports arena, where the first football match in South Tyrol was staged on 28 April 1901. Golf, tennis, polo, and hockey games all took place at the old sports arena.
• Occupying 40 hectares and with a five-kilometre racetrack the Merano race course is one of the largest horse racing courses in Europe.
Highlights
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Jubilee celebrations 150 years Haflinger horse - Maia Oktoberfest
Sunday 13 Oct
Meran - Merano
12:00 - 18:00
Jubilee celebrations 150 years Haflinger horse - Maia Oktoberfest
As part of the anniversary celebration 150 years of South Tyrolean Haflingers, numerous events will take place, including a large Haflinger country show and a world congress. Further details and ...
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128th Traditional Haflinger horse races and procession
Monday 21 Apr
Meran/Merano
10:00 - 17:00
128th Traditional Haflinger horse races and procession
On Easter Monday, the Haflinger gallop race marks the beginning of the new racing season at the Merano horse racing track. In the morning (at 10 a.m.) the magnificently decorated floats and music ...
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Midsummer meetting at the Merano Racecourse
Friday 15 Aug
Merano/Meran
15:00 - 19:00
Midsummer meetting at the Merano Racecourse
Horse races on one of Europe's most beautiful obstacle racetracks. For information on the start of each race, please consult the Merano Galoppo websites, as these always vary.
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12th Burggräfler Palio
Sunday 31 Aug
Merano
15:00 - 19:00
12th Burggräfler Palio
An equestrian event with a guaranteed derby atmosphere: the “Palio” between the municipalities surrounding Merano sees the various teams allotted horses, then competing in races between both ...
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86rd Merano South Tyrol Grand Prix
Saturday 27 Sep
Merano/Meran
12:00 - 19:00
+ more dates
86rd Merano South Tyrol Grand Prix
The horseracing weekend also comprises other competitions of international importance, such as the Price of Nations (which is linked to the Crystal Cup) on September 27th, whilst the main event, the ...
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