Kincsem Stables and Riding School

In the second half of the 19th century, the building in Göd was already a stable, which was formerly a horse-changing station and a tavern. It owes its fame to Kincsem, the multiple prize-winning Hungarian-bred racehorse who spent the best years of his career here. Around 1874-1887 Göd was one of the most important centres of Hungarian horse racing. The building has been unused for decades, and in the last year it has been renovated with the help of a grant, creating a complex with cultural and community functions.

The owner of Kincsem was horse breeder Ernő Blaskovich, founder of the stud farm in Tapiószentmárton, who started breeding English thoroughbreds in 1863. In 1874, Ernő Blaskovich decided to sell the foals he had born and in 1875, after long negotiations, Baron Orczy and Count Lónyay bought all the foals except Kincsem. Kincsem stayed at Tápiószentmárton, and in the autumn he was transferred to Göd and started racing at the age of two. The Göd stud became the centre of attention in Hungary, and during Kincsem's victories, correspondents from as far away as England came to report on the condition of the "wonder" colt. Kincsem's decorations and medals are on display in the Hungarian Agricultural Museum, where visitors can also see his skeleton and a model of the Göd training farm.

In May 2016, a life-size bronze statue of the invincible racehorse, the work of sculptor Béla Tóth, was unveiled in our town, in front of the former Kincsem stables.
The former stables will also house a memorial to Kincsem's career, a room dedicated to traditional local crafts and a space for permanent and temporary exhibitions. The original façade of the building has been reconstructed and a hall has been created for performances, screenings and other events, while the large rectangular courtyard can also be used as an outdoor stage.

Contacts:

• Address: 2131 Göd, Pesti út 93.
• Göd is located about 25 km north of Budapest and 9 km south of Vác. It can be reached from Budapest by car on the main road 2, by train on the Budapest-Szob railway line, by bus or on the cycle path along the Danube.