Who we are

The realization of a racecourse in Syracuse, since the seventies, was an expectation that brooded on the minds of many inhabitants of its province, who were enthusiastic for horse racing. Their passion annually reinvigorated in occasion of the historical “Palio of Ascension” in Floridia and of the “Palio of Saint Venus” in Avola, followed by thousands of people and raced by many thoroughbred horses.

The project of the racecourse construction became feasible in 1988, when, after a market research that confirmed the passion for horses and the propensity to bet of the Sicilian population, the company “Marconi Italia S.p.A.” (the actual owner of the racecourse) purchased for that purpose a vast rural fund near CassibiIe. The facility construction began in 1993 after a complicated bureaucratic procedure. The first functional part of the complex was completed two years later. The racecourse, called “Ippodromo del Mediterraneo”, was officially unveiled on December 8th 1995. The investments completed in the next years, including those in progress, allowed to realize an original structure in its kind. The racecourse, that now represents a solid reality for the Syracusan economy, besides disposing of racetracks, boxes and of the most up-to-date and complete technical installations, is furthermore equipped with a multi-storey grandstand, which is unique in Italy for standard and size. It is a facility realised with the purpose of offering innovative services to the operators and to the race goers.

The public, beyond admiring the horses, has at his disposal betting points, six cafes, panoramic restaurants, terraces and reception rooms equipped with the most modern technology. Within a few months a modern hotel with swimming pools and wellness centre along with a sporting centre with tennis, football and multi-use courses will be opened.

A realization that opens more doors to the cities every day and that manages to combine the passion for horse-racing and betting with a healthy use of the leisure time; that offers relax opportunities also to people who do not know a lot about the fascinating world of horses; that allows to carry out diversified activities giving vitality to the Racecourse, not only during the racing days but also every day, approaching to the world of horse-racing new and important kinds of public. This is a way to make horse-racing more followed and more popular.

The results achieved by the racecourse are amazing and superior to any expectations. Ippodromo del Mediterraneo, despite its short period of activity, is among the first racecourses of Europe for size, technical facilities, horses number and quality, number and quality of races, betting turnover and public attendance.

The job opportunities are notable -the workers of the sector are at least a thousand and even more important are the perspectives of work increase. The attention of the Sicilian public towards the horse world is confirmed by the attendance recorded at the racecourse. The track is attended by an elevated number of race goers - about thousand every racing day - showing particular passion for the races and interest for betting. In fact the greatest part of the racecourse success is due to the population of the region, in general, and of the whole province in particular, that manifested since the beginning a great bond towards the fascinating “horses” world.

Worth for the achieved results must also be given to the institutions, to Syracuse City, Syracuse Regional Province, Sicily Region and to their offices that within their institutional tasks always supported “Ippodromo del Mediterraneo” action. A great merit for the good results of Syracuse racecourse must be furthermore given to U.N.I.R.E. (Italian horseracing public authority), that believed in the project, supported it and exploited its vocation. The success of the initiative does honour to the entrepreneurs, to the professionals and to all the people that believed and trusted in the “Racecourse in Syracuse project” and who now see realized a facility that contributes to the development of national horse-racing and that gives prestige and importance to the whole province of Syracuse. Among these subjects there is also the Italo-American entrepreneurial community of Hartford that participated in the project since the beginning. A special quotation goes to the late lamented rag. Francesco Faraci, former president of the company, that was the first one to believe in the initiative and to support it in the first years of its activity.

In conclusion we can say with pride that Syracuse boasts in its own territory a polyvalent horse reality with sporting, recreational and accommodation facilities, among the greatest, more productive, modern and conceptually advanced of Europe.