The Valencian district of Pinedo will pause its traditional horse races due to the coincidence with the total solar eclipse, which will be visible tomorrow in Valencia. The competition, with over 180 years of history, will resume on Thursday.
The beach of Pinedo, in Valencia, will experience an atypical edition of the traditional Corregudes de Joies this year. The organisation has decided to suspend the races scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12, due to the timing coinciding with the total solar eclipse that will be visible from the city, a measure taken for the safety of participants and the public.
The competition, which began yesterday Monday with track preparation, weighing, and veterinary checks of the horses, as well as the first training sessions, will resume on Thursday 13 and will continue until Friday 14 August. The races will take place from 18:00 over a course of 700 metres of sand in the area of Creu de la Conca, where riders will compete without saddles, as tradition dictates.
This event, declared Fiesta de Interés Turístico Provincial, is part of the Festa Grossa in honour of the Virgin of the Rosary and keeps alive a custom born among the ancient farmers of the Valencian orchard. The prize, a 'joia' — a silk scarf tied over a laurel crown — retains the same romantic symbolism as in the past, when the winner would present it to their beloved.
The organisation is managed by the Associació Corregudes de Joies i Sant Antoni Abad de Pinedo, with the collaboration of the Valencia City Council through the local mayor's office and the Municipal Sports Foundation. The event attracts hundreds of locals and visitors each summer who come to the beach to witness a unique spectacle where sport, history, and tradition come together.
The final day, Friday, will conclude with the award ceremony for the winners. Those wishing to watch the races can head to Pinedo beach from six in the evening, although it is recommended to arrive early to find a good spot on the sand.
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