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Report - Hippodrome G. (Belgium)

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Jascha_EOS

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
March 2011 Peter,Jos and I have visit this hippodrome

Here some info:
Important initiator of this abandoned racecourse was former king Leopold II of Belgium. In 1889 the racetrack was opened. For the king a royal tribune was build between the public tribunes. The racetrack was in the beginning only 49 ha large. But in 1906 the total area was about 72 ha large. For better accessibility the racetrack was connected with a railroad.

After world war I ammunition was stored at the fields. But unfortunately a explosion took place twice. This caused a lot of damage to the buildings of the racetrack and surrounding villages. The Royal tribune was also damaged but rebuild in 1924. Between both world wars, the racetrack was very important for the local economy. At these days, almost 600 horses were hold on the track and provided a living for 250 families. Also foreign workers were attracted for the jobs on and around the track.

In World war II the racetrack was in use by the German army. After the second war, a reconstruction of the racetrack was made in 1982. Due to unexpected finds of ammunition the operation was very expensive. About 8 tons of bombs and other ammunition were removed from the site. Also a whole new concrete tribune was build in 1985.

Despite all efforts, is didn’t became a success: other forms of gambling became popular instead of horse betting and the track was difficult to visit because the rail track was broken down. So the income for the organization declined. In 2001 the organization finally went bankrupt.



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Click the link for all the pics: http://www.lost-in-time-ue.nl/index...me-G-B-March-2011&m6e73ereturnid=56&pagina=56
 

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