Hipódromo de la Zarzuela

The Hipódromo de la Zarzuela in northwest Madrid is one of Europe's most architecturally distinguished racecourses — its celebrated Art Deco grandstand, designed by Eduardo Torroja in 1941, is a UNESCO-listed architectural landmark and one of the most photographed buildings in Spanish sport. The track fell into disuse in 1996 after a long period of declining attendance and was restored and reopened in 2010 as part of a renewed effort to establish Spanish racing as a viable international attraction. The Gran Premio de Madrid — Spain's most prestigious flat race and the country's equivalent of the Epsom Derby — is the centrepiece of the Zarzuela racing season, attracting the best Spanish-trained three-year-olds in a June Classic. The track's right-handed turf oval, set in the Casa de Campo parklands west of central Madrid, provides excellent sight lines and a scenic racing environment that ranks among the most visually appealing in Europe. Spanish racing faces ongoing challenges from the dominance of other sports in the national market, but Zarzuela's restored facilities and international ambitions make it the country's best prospect for developing an internationally competitive programme.