Hipódromo de las Américas

The Hipódromo de las Américas in Mexico City is Latin America's northernmost major thoroughbred racing venue and Mexico's showcase of horse racing. Located in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City, the track has operated since 1943 and hosts Mexico's most important Classic programme — the Gran Premio Mexico, the Premio Presidente de la República, and the Clásico del Caribe, which brings together the champion three-year-olds from across Latin America. The track's configuration — a left-handed dirt oval at an altitude of approximately 2,240m above sea level — creates unique racing conditions that require acclimatisation from sea-level-trained horses. Mexico City's high altitude produces faster track surfaces due to reduced air resistance and makes the transition challenging for horses arriving from lower-altitude circuits. The Hipódromo hosts the winter/spring season (November through May) on its dirt track, with a smaller grass circuit available for turf racing in the drier months. Mexican racing has produced several horses that competed internationally in the US and Central America, with the Clásico del Caribe acting as the region's equivalent of the Breeders' Cup for three-year-olds.