Racing on - PARADE MAGAZINE

TURKEY’S NATIONAL STUDKaracabeyPension StudTurkey has a rich history in which the horse played a vital and pivotal role.Horses have been around in Anatolia, which is now Turkey, since 3000 BC,writes LIESL KING.Hence, it comes as no surprise that first racewas held at Izmir on September 23, 1856, duringthe Ottoman Empire. The founder of thenew Turkish Republic in 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,was clearly a very sensible man as he concludedthat horseracing was a social need for modern societiesand ordered that a system be established that wasfully in line with European standards.Since then racing has taken place without interruptions,with the first Turkish Derby held in 1927. Currentlythe Turkish Jockey Club (TJK) under the auspicesof the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock,controls the regulatory side of the industry.With Ataturk placing such a great importance onhorseracing, he appointed the Italian architect, Violetti,to build the Ankara racecourse and adjacent sportcomplex in 1937. To date there are four main coursesIstanbul (Veliefendi), Ankara, Izmir (Sininyer) andAdana, with a further four being added in 1985. Racesare held for purebred Arabians as well as for thoroughbreds.Pari-mutuel betting is offered on and off track, with afully computerised system with about 2700 dealers.Despite having the full support of the government,the biggest hurdle to racing and betting, is the high taxrates on pari-mutuel betting, currently at 40%.On the breeding side, the Karacabey National Studwas instructed to breed purebred Arabians and between1928 and 1933 many horses were collectedfrom around the world to form the nucleus of the Stud.Entrance to Turkey’s National Stud.Internationally proven stallion, Dehere.Parade 45