Trabrennbahn Krieau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
48.21055°N 16.414347°E / 48.21055; 16.414347
Location | Nordportalstraße 247, Vienna, Austria |
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Coordinates | 48.21055°N 16.414347°E / 48.21055; 16.414347 |
Owned by | Wiener Trabrenn-Verein |
Date opened | September 29, 1878; 145 years ago (1878-09-29) |
Race type | harness racing |
Notable races | Österreichisches Traber-Derby [sv] Graf Kalman Hunyady Memorial |
Official website |
The Trabrennbahn Krieau (Krieau Trotting Track), also known as the Trabrennplatz, is a horse racing track in the Krieau [de], a part of Vienna's Leopoldstadt district.[1] The Prater, a large public park, lies immediately to the southwest of the Trabrennbahn Krieau. The Trabrennbahn Krieau opened on 29 September, 1878. The old grandstand and a tower for officials were finished in 1913. The Trabrennbahn Krieau is the second oldest harness racing track in Europe; only the Central Moscow Hippodrome, completed in 1834, is older.[2]
Major annual racing events held at the Trabrennbahn Krieau are the Österreichisches Traber-Derby [sv], which began in 1884, and the Graf Kalman Hunyady Memorial, which has been held since 1901. The Trabrennbahn Krieau is also used as a concert venue, and has hosted artists like Avicii, Robbie Williams, Green Day, and Bon Jovi.[3][4]
On 11 September 1931, Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß gave a speech, the so-called Trabrennplatzrede [de], at the Trabrennbahn.[5]
The Trabrennbahn has also been used for motor racing. On 7 April 1935, a 23-year-old Austrian mechanic and racer named Hans (or possibly Johann) Pelikan crashed into a concrete barrier while attempting test laps on a motorcycle, and died within minutes. Pelikan was intending to compete in the Austria-Goldpokal race being held that day.[6]