History

The Wola Hippodrome began its operations over 100 years ago. It was in Poznań that the best Polish riders of the 20th century were trained, and the facility's stables hosted the fastest horses from all of Europe.

Almost 120 years of Polish equestrian history

The history of the Hippodrome in Poznańska Wola dates back to the early 20th century. The first facilities were built in the years 1906-1908, as a backroom for the Imperial Castle in Poznań, consisting of stables and a coach house. Shortly afterwards, plans were made to build a racetrack.

Beginning

The history of the Hippodrome in Poznańska Wola dates back to the early 20th century. The first facilities were built in the years 1906-1908, as a back-up facility for the Imperial Castle in Poznań, consisting of stables and a coach house. Soon afterwards, plans were made to build a racetrack. Designed on an area of 54 hectares, the facility consisted of two tracks, next to which were three stands and courts for tennis, cricket and football.

Posener Rennverein

Until 1918 the facility belonged to the Poznań Racing Association (Posener Rennverein).

Hipodrom Wola

After the facility was taken over by a group of breeders from Wielkopolska, a general meeting of the Wielkopolska Horse Racing Association was held on September 29, 1919, at which the statute was adopted, the board was elected, and the final takeover of the track was decided. After World War I, Poznań was the second city after Warsaw to resume pre-war horse racing the fastest. The first races combined with equestrian competitions took place in October 1919, during which Marshal Józef Piłsudski was a guest on the honorary tribune.

World War II

The outbreak of World War II meant the end of the thriving horse racing scene, although the occupiers used the hippodrome to organise their own races.

Post-war period

The period after World War II was very difficult for Polish equestrianism, when both indirectly through combating everything that reminded of the past and directly through the liquidation of the Polish Equestrian Association in 1946. However, the love of horses did not stop equestrian enthusiasts from saving horse sports. Quietly, equestrian sports sections began to be established in herds and stud farms. At that time, the Wola Hippodrome was also a place to organize unofficial friendly competitions, and in 1947 and 1949, district competitions in show jumping and horse racing were organized.

First competition after the war

On September 12-14, 1952, the first eventing competition in the post-war history of Polish equestrianism took place in Wola.

The Polish Equestrian Association Centre

In 1957, the Polish Equestrian Association was established on the grounds of the Wola Hippodrome, where the elite of Polish equestrian sport trained under the watchful eye of former cavalrymen. At the same time, Wola was a place where breeding and recreational horses were trained for sale to Western European countries. For many years, Wola was the organizer of horse auctions famous throughout Europe.

Liquidation of PZJ

In the mid-1960s, by decision of the then authorities of the Polish Equestrian Association, the centre was closed down and moved to Warsaw.

Training and coaching activities

In the 1980s, the Equestrian Training Centre focused its activity on training and competitive training within the breeding section of young horses. Sports activities were based primarily on the activities of the "CWAŁ" People's Sports Club, and the main competitions practiced in Wola were show jumping and eventing.

Independent state enterprise

In 1988, the Equestrian Training Centre became an independent state-owned enterprise, which, thanks to its legal personality, allowed it to significantly expand the scope of services provided and thus improve the economic result and optimise the management of the newly established entity.

Establishment of the CWJ Hipodrom Wola company

The year 1993 brought further changes related to the establishment of a company called CWJ - Hipodrom Wola Sp. z o.o., owned by the then AWRSP (ANR). In connection with the World Championships in Pair-Horse Driving, which were to be held in Wola, comprehensive renovation works began on the facility.

Concours de Saut International

Since 1995, Hipodrom Wola Sp. z o.o. has been the organizer of the International Official Show Jumping Competitions CSIO.

Change of company owner

In 2005, the company was acquired by the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Self-Government.

Transfer of the Wola Hippodrome to the City of Poznań

In December 2021, the City of Poznań acquired all shares in the company Centrum Wyszkolenia Jeździeckiego - Hipodrom Wola free of charge. The area is to be managed by Grupa MTP - the organizer of, among others, the largest equestrian event - the CAVALIADA Tour series and the National Exhibition of Breeding Animals.