Did you know that Copenhagen has a horse racing track? It does: north of the city, right by Dyrehaven park and Bakken, the oldest amusement park in the world, lies Klampenborg Galopbane, where gallop races take place nearly every weekend from April to October/ November.
This past Sunday was Ladies’ Day, or “Damernes Dag” in Danish, so despite the not so ideal weather, I decided to head out there with a friend - the boyfriend in tow as our camera man!
I totally refused to wear sensible clothing, so I ended up freezing my butt off for most of the event, but I felt like dressing up, and it was fun after all. We even donned our fancy hats, of course (which also guarantees free entrance, by the way!), and struck a pose in front of the Royal Grandstand.
We started the day off with some champagne on the terrace of the Owners’ Lounge (which is open to everyone), and watched the first two races from up there.
We even tried our hand at some betting. We selected a horse purely by its name, Frøken Smilla, and then watched as she pulled off an impressive last place. Ouch. Better luck next time!
After some much needed warming up inside and some very good fish and chips, we wanted to catch one race standing right by the track. So we wrestled our way to the banister and got ready for the horses to thunder past. And they did!
What we hadn’t considered was that due to the rain, the ground was super wet and soft, and the horses sent the mud flying around - hitting everyone in the vicinity! And I was wearing a white jacket…
We didn’t stay for all the races, as the cold started to get to us. But it was a super fun experience nonetheless! Racing season is still going strong, so if you’re interested, check out Klampenborg Galopbane’s website or Facebook for the season calendar.
Here are some helpful tips if you decide to go:
- Getting there is super easy - take the S-train to Klampenborg. There’s also car parking right across the street.
- Wear sensible shoes! The parking lot is mud/ grass, and the ground close to the track is either grass or gravel.
- Bring cash. There is an ATM and you can also pay by card (Dankort) at some of the food stalls/ restaurants, but not all of them (weirdly, we paid our food by card and then had to use cash for drinks AT THE SAME STAND. Whut?!). Entrance is also paid in cash.
- You are allowed to bring your own food (like a picnic basket) but drinks must be bought there. There are also restaurants and a food stand, and prices are not too bad.
- Entrance is free for children under 18! Adults pay 80-100kr.
- There is no dress code, so whether you want to wear a fancy had or your rain boots (or both!), you’ll be fine.
I think visiting the races is a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday, and I’ll be back for sure - hoping for a beautiful, sunny fall weekend soon! Have you been to the races? And do you have any tips for betting on horse races? Let me know in the comments below!
Neil says
I’m visiting Copenhagen soon and was thinking about going to the horse racing. After reading your blog I will definitely give it a try. Thank you.
Laura says
Hi Neil, that sounds like a great plan - I hope you enjoy your trip to Copenhagen!