TJK ( Türkiye Jokey Kulübü ) was founded on 2 November 1950. The club was recognized as public benefit society by the resolution of Council of Ministers in 1953 and named as Jockey club of Turkey by adding the Turkey afterwards the club’s name. It is the only institution authorized to conduct horse races and organize mutual betting.
Jockey Club of Turkey has been conducting horse races and organizing mutual betting since 3 October 1953 by the power given by Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.
Purposes of Jockey Club of Turkey can be summarized as below:
- Enable Turkey to be ranked as one of the most developed countries in horse breeding.
- Organize and conduct horse races in Turkey in accordance with national and international standards.
- Provide essential infrastructures and services ideally for development of horse races and breeding in Turkey.
- Spread the popularity and prestige of horse breeding and horse races nationally and internationally.
First Eras
Organized horse races were conducted in Izmir on 23 September 1856 for the first time. During the leadership of Evliyazade Refik Bey and the tenure of Mr. Patterson as the Consul General of England, the Smyrna Races Club was founded. Izmir races were organized annually on Easter days. S.R.C. races were in their golden ages at the beginning of the 20th century and this ended with the start of 1st World War.
Ottoman Jockey Club
The opinions of organizing horse races and breeding by means of jockey club in Turkey was tried to be accomplished but there is no clear knowledge on the actions of this club. According to the directory published in 1909, Grand Vizier Sait Halim Pasha was the president of Ottoman Jockey Club.
Guild of Cavalryman Races
Refik Evliyazade started working for regular races to be organized in Istanbul when S.R.C races came to an end with 1st World War. As a result of the support by the most powerful person of the era, Enver Pasha, Guild of Cavalryman Horse Riding Club and Society of Improving Horse Breed were founded in 1913. Choosing Veliefendi as racetrack coincides with the same era.
TJK Era
The Jockey Club of Turkey was founded on 23 October 1950 by the period’s Secretary of State Fevzi Lutfi Karaosmanoglu, Deputy of Kocaeli Saim Onhon, Halim Sait Turkhan, Nejat Evliyazade and Sait Akson with the approvals of the era’s President and Prime Minister. Lounge of the club was opened on the Ziya Gökalp street in Ankara with the attendance of President Celal Bayar on 14 April 1951.
In 1954, 43 races were organized with a daily program in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Today, number of the cities hosting horseraces are increased to 8 with the addition of Adana, Bursa, Sanliurfa, Elazig and Diyarbakir to Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir; also horseraces began to be organized during the whole year without interruption.
As a result of the practices of Jockey Club of Turkey, race incomes rose and huge investments has been made with those incomes. For example; modern racecourses has been built in 9 cities across Turkey in which races are organized. Also, a great importance has been attributed to horse breeding services and those facilities has been built: Pension stud farms in Bursa Karacabey for thoroughbred English Horses, Pension stud farms in Eskisehir Mahmudiye and in Sanliurfa for thoroughbred Arabic Horses. Apart from those facilities, Agean / Torbali, Izmit / Center, Adana / Seyhan, Thrace Insemination Stations has been built; valuable stud horses has been taken to both stud farms and insemination stations and been provided to service of the breeders. Izmir Kosekoy Rehabilitation Center was also opened by Jockey Club of Turkey. With a resolution of the extraordinary congress, headquarter of Jockey Club of Turkey was moved to Istanbul. In 1954 there were 24 founding members, today the number of these members increased to 116.