Day of issue of the commemorative stamp 150-year anniversary of the Vienna Harness Racing Club

Legendary harness racing track

The Vienna Harness Racing Club is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Austrian Post is honouring this long-standing tradition with a commemorative stamp.

As part of Vienna’s World Fair in 1873, an international horse exhibition and a harness race were held in the main avenue of the Prater. Shortly afterwards, on 10 April 1874, the Vienna Harness Racing Club was founded at the Hotel Tauber on Praterstraße. The club organised not only harness races but also horse breeding exhibitions. The first president was Count Kálmán Hunyady, in whose honour the Count Kálmán Hunyady Memorial Race is held annually. The harness races continued to be held in the main avenue, until the Krieau Trotting Track was opened in 1878 on part of the area of the former Industrial Palace next to the Rotunda. The first trotting derby in the Krieau took place in 1884. The distinctive judges' tower from 1919 as well as the stands, the administration and stable buildings are listed as historic monuments.

The sand-covered trotting track is 1,000 metres long and can accommodate eight horses per starting row. The stands were modernised and renovated in the 1960s and at the turn of the millennium. The site is also used for concerts and other events. The Vienna Trotting Club is the largest organiser of horse races in Austria. More than 20 race days are held in the Krieau each year, with around 200 races taking place and prize money of up to one million euros being awarded.

When? 
4 May 2024, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

Presentation on 4 May 2024 at 1:50 p.m.

Where? Krieau Harness Racing Part in the Austrian Post tent, Nordportalstraße 247, 1020 Vienna

Group pictures: Picture 1
Picture of presentation: © : Eddy Risavy - Wiener Trabrenn-Verein

Group picture, left to right: Patricia Liebermann (Head of Philately at Austrian Post), Andreas Binder (board member, Vienna Harness Racing Club)