There were four days filled with attractions for both turf lovers and the general public who, in addition to watching the races, accompanied the shows, tributes, gastronomic attractions with Gastro Beer Rio and many games with the Festival O Burburinho.
On Friday (16th), the event started with the traditional sand track races, with distances from 1,100m to 1,900m, and had a total of 10 races. After them, the audience was treated to an exciting show by the sambista Jorge Aragão, who took to the ClubHouse stage and sang all of his greatest hits. During the presentation, the composer played with his lyrics, making puns with words related to the world of turf and thanked the president of the Jockey Club Brasileiro, Raul Lima Neto, for the opportunity to sing "at home".
On Saturday (17th), the Festival Grande Prêmio Brasil Pixbet 2023 program started early, at 12:00, and lasted until 10pm with the unprecedented and special edition of Gastro Beer Rio, for the first time at the Brazilian Jockey Club. In partnership with Festival O Burburinho, they took thousands of families to Gávea.
The event brought together more than 20 breweries with 100 labels, in addition to a variety of gastronomic options, shows of different styles and games such as the Tour and the Beer Games. For the kids, O Burburinho took recreational activities such as magic, soap bubbles, as well as playful workshops, dance classes, educational toys and various brands from different segments of the children's universe.
The races started around 1pm, with a total of 11 races held on the grass track, with distances from 1,000m to 2,000m.
The big day
On Sunday (18th), the most prestigious competition of the national turf was the great attraction. With the horse Raptor's, recent winner of the GP Cruzeiro do Sul – Derby Brasileiro, the internationally awarded jockey João Moreira, known as the “Magic Man”, won (2m24s91) the GP Brasil 2023. Escher, number 9, came in second, followed by Olympic Kremlin, the 4. Online, number 16, who was also tipped as favourite, had finished second but was disqualified. The race has a distance of 2,400m.
At the beginning of this month, the GP Brasil was included in the Official Calendar of the State of Rio, with the "Grand Prix Brasil de Turfe Day", to be celebrated annually on the last Sunday of June. The project was authored by Deputy Cláudio Caiado and was sanctioned by Governor Cláudio Castro, who was present at the event.
"There were 4 exciting and very important days for the national turf and for the Brazilian Jockey Club. We have the mission to rescue the tradition and history of the sport in the city and I believe that we are on the right path. We gathered the biggest names, consecrated the greatest jockey of today and we brought the population of Rio close, with shows and varied attractions. The face of Rio," said the current president of the Brazilian Jockey Club, Raul Lima Neto.
The day of the Grande Prêmio Brasil is a spectacle of its own, with incredible horses, renowned jockeys and a special audience. On Sunday, those who were at the Social Tribune, had the exclusive headgear of the renowned stylist Denis Linhares, who participated in the event for the 16th time, providing even more beauty and elegance to the guests. Names like Valeria Valenssa, Fernando Torquatto, Botafogo coach Luís Castro, among others, were present.
Those who were in the stands and on the lawns of the tribunes could also follow everything up close, free of charge, with the second day of programming at Gastro Beer Rio and Festival O Burburinho. For the first time, the new mascot of the Brazilian Jockey Club, Turfinho, walked through the public and was a sensation among the children. From now on, the mascot is part of the Hippodrome's schedule on special dates.
Tribute
Biggest icon of the sport in Brazil and record holder of victories in the world turf, J.Ricardo, received a beautiful tribute on Sunday, alongside two great idols: Juvenal Machado da Silva, greatest race winner in the history of the GP Brasil (5 times) and Gonçalino Feijó de Almeida, Goncinha, one of the best jockeys of the 70s/80s, with a successful career also as a trainer in the USA.
Closing the schedule, on Monday (19th), the Festival GP Brasil Pixbet 2023 had another 10 races, that took place on grass and sand tracks, distances from 1,000m to 1,600m. On every day, in keeping with tradition, the festival also featured special menus and itineraries in the 10 restaurants spread around the Hipódromo da Gávea.
Source: GMB
