Is There Horse Racing In Romania?

Horse racing is a global sport that has been around for thousands of years, but did it ever make it to Romania? Well, not many people know that Romania actually has deep equestrian roots and it is home to nearly 760,000 horses and local breeds like the Hutzul and Romanian Sport Horse.

Although all of this sounds great, in reality, the horse racing industry is far from perfect. Today, horse racing in Romania exists, but it’s a shadow of what it could be. Why? Well, it all comes down to the country’s turbulent history, which also affected the horse racing industry.

Okay, so this might not be the United States, where we have the Preakness entries, which include some of the fastest horses in the world, but it is still a vibrant place with rich horse racing culture.

Let’s dive deeper into the horse racing culture in Romania and find out the history and current stance of the sport there.

The Ploiești Racetrack

The best way to find the current status of a sport like horse racing in a country is to look at their active venues. Sadly, Romania has only one active venue – the Ploiești Racetrack, which is located in Ploiești, about 60 km north of Bucharest.

Yes, back in the days, there were multiple racetracks (many of which were unofficial), but this one is the only surviving racetrack in Romania.

Last year, this racetrack held races like the Premiul Hambletonian for harness racing and the Premiul de Închidere Sezon for gallop, which aren’t as big as the Kentucky Derby and only attract local horse racing fans.

Back in the days (before 1989), thousands of people went to Ploiești for trap races, but interest disappeared post-Revolution due to economic shifts and mismanagement.

Then the privatization happened in the early 2000s, which left the track neglected, and the facilities started crumbling, and races were halted for over four years. Fortunately, by 2012, Ploiești City Hall regained control and revived horse racing in Romania. However, the tradition is already gone. Racers are irregular and sometimes years apart due to funding and organizational challenges.

Was Horse Racing Always This Miserable?

The short answer is no. Horse racing has a rich history in Romania, and before the 1960s, Bucharest’s Băneasa Racecourse was the main attraction for horse racing enthusiasts. But then the urban development came, and housing was more important than horse racing, which resulted in the demolition of the racecourse.

According to some reports, horses from Băneasa went to Ploiești, but gallop racing struggled due to the track’s focus on harness racing and limited infrastructure.

So, horse racing has been present in Romania for decades, but it was never really a main attraction. Romanian horses also have some success abroad, but in most cases, they travel locally to races in Czechoslovakia.

Then the communist era came, where restrictions, including bans on religious-linked events like the Epiphany races, put an everlasting dot on the industry, making it almost impossible to recover.

Cultural Racing

However, one thing it is important to understand, just because there aren’t any decent official horse racing tracks here, it doesn’t mean that there is no horse racing action.

Many self-organized and local races date back over a century, like the race in the village of Pietrosani. Locals always shared a good relationship with horses, and although we are not talking about a professional sport, locals still love equine competition.

Why Is Racing So Limited?

So, why isn’t Romania a horse racing hotspot despite its 760,000 horses, ranking fifth globally? Several hurdles explain this.

First, infrastructure is a major issue—Ploiești is the only functioning racetrack, and its irregular events deter consistent participation.

Second, funding shortages plague the industry; post-privatization neglect left Ploiești’s facilities outdated, and local government budgets can’t sustain regular races.

Third, cultural shifts play a role—younger Romanians, especially Millennials, gravitate toward global sports like football or online betting on international races like the Grand National, reducing domestic demand.

Finally, animal welfare concerns, like those raised at Titu’s horse market where animals face harsh treatment, cast a shadow over racing’s image, limiting public support. These factors combine to keep racing niche, despite Romania’s equestrian potential.