Gazi Derby
| Thoroughbred horse flat race | |
| Location |
Veliefendi Race Course Zeytinburnu, Istanbul Turkey 
|
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | June 10, 1927 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,400 m (2,600 yd) |
| Surface | Turf (grass) track |
| Track | right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Purse | TL 850,000 (approx. US$ 530,000 as of June 2011) |
| Bonuses | TL 100,000 conditional to the winner |
The Gazi Race (Turkish: Gazi Koşusu) is a Turkish thoroughbred horse flat race that is established in honor of the founder of the Turkish Republic Gazi Mustafa Kemal. It is country's most prestigious horse racing event, which is held uninterruptedly since its establishment in 1927. Restricted to 22 three-year-old thoroughbred horses, it is raced clockwise at a distance of 2,400 m (2,600 yd) on turf (grass) track at the Veliefendi Race Course in Istanbul.
Mustafa Kemal, founder of the Turkish Republic, was honored with the title Ghazi (Turkish: Gazi) in 1923 by the Turkish Grand National Assembly due to his successful command at the Turkish War of Independence. He used this title until 1934, when he was given the surname "Atatürk" (literally: Father of Turks) following the adoption of the Surname Law.
A fan of horse racing, Gazi Mustafa Kemal said "Horse racing is the social need for modern societies". He organized horse races even during the years of the War of Independence in Ankara, in the new capital of modern Turkey.
The first officially organized horse racing was run on June 10, 1927 in Ankara by British bred horses without age restriction over a distance of 2,000 m (2,200 yd). The money award was TL 2,000. The winner was jockey İhsan Atçı with racehorse "Neriman" owned by Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir, member of a renowned candy producing dynasty.
In 1928, the event was run as an open race restricted to age and weight. Succeeding Turkish presidents, Celal Bayar in 1929 with "Cap Gris Nez" and İsmet İnönü in 1930 with "Olgo", were also among the winners of the Gazi Race.
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