Gazi Race


The Gazi Race is a Turkish thoroughbred horse flat race that is established in honor of the founder of the Turkish Republic Gazi Mustafa Kemal. It is country's most prestigious horse racing event, which is held uninterruptedly since its establishment in 1927. Restricted to 22 three-year-old thoroughbred horses, it is raced clockwise at a distance of on turf track at the Veliefendi Race Course in Istanbul.

History

Mustafa Kemal, founder of the Turkish Republic, was honored with the title Ghazi in 1923 by the Turkish Grand National Assembly due to his successful command at the Turkish War of Independence. He used this title until 1934, when he was given the surname "Atatürk" following the adoption of the Surname Law.
A fan of horse racing, Gazi Mustafa Kemal said "Horse racing is the social need for modern societies". He organized horse races even during the years of the War of Independence in Ankara, in the new capital of modern Turkey.
The first officially organized horse racing was run on June 10, 1927 in Ankara by British bred horses without age restriction over a distance of. The money award was TL 2,000. The winner was jockey İhsan Atçı with racehorse "Neriman" owned by Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir, member of a renowned candy producing dynasty.
In 1928, the event was run as an open race restricted to age and weight. Succeeding Turkish presidents, Celal Bayar in 1929 with "Cap Gris Nez" and İsmet İnönü in 1930 with "Olgo", were also among the winners of the Gazi Race.
In 1932, the race was restricted to British thoroughbred three-year-old horses born in Turkey and was run over a distance of. The prize was set to TL 5,000. In 1936, Gazi Race was held in the Ankara City Race Course constructed next to the Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium.
Whenever Atatürk was in Ankara, he enjoyed to observe horse racing. In 1938, the race was renamed "Atatürk Race". Since its inauguration, the event is held every year without interruption. Gazi Race was transferred in 1968 from Ankara to Istanbul's Veliefendi Race Course.

Award

The winner of the race receives a purse in amount of TL 850,000. In addition, a bonus payment totaling to about TL 533,500 is given for breeding and enrollment expenses. Since 1970, a solid silver trophy in form of an equestrian statue depicting Gazi Mustafa Kemal is bestowed by the Turkish president. It was created by sculptor Mehmet Şadi Çalık.

Records

Record holder of the Gazi Race is the thoroughbred horse "Bold Pilot" owned by Özdemir Atman that was run by jockey Halis Karataş at a time of 2.26.22 in 1996.
Racehorse owner and breeder Sadık Eliyeşil is the most winner of the Gazi Race with 13 titles:
Year
Racehorse
1950Darling
1953Kusun
1961Atlıhan
1963Melikşah
1964Kayarlı
1971Minimo
1972Akkor
1973Karayel
1976Buğra
1982Toraman
1984Cartagena
1986Hafız
2005Popular Demand

Mümin Çılgın is the most successful jockey of the Gazi Race with nine wins:
Year
Racehorse
1960Helene De Troia
1965Apaçi
1974Nadas
1979Dr. Seferof
1981Dersim
1985Uğurtay
1986Hafız
1988Top Image
1991Abbas

In 2012, Halis Karataş won the Gazi Race for the 5th time with the thoroughbred horse "Matador Yaşar" owned by Ahmet Göçmen. His former victories were in 1996, 2005, 2006 and 2011.