The Turkish racing world passed through many phases both before and after the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923, initiated by the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Races had been organized primarily in Izmir, then in Istanbul, Ankara, Samsun, Urfa and Bursa. With the approval of the President and the Prime Minister of Turkey, the Jockey Club was founded in November 1950 as a non-profit social association for public benefit. In July 1953, ordinance number 6132 took effect, giving the Club authority to organize races, under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, with its' name being The Jockey Club of Turkey.

The Jockey Club of Turkey organized its first race in September 1953 and rapidly launched several projects to improve breeding, training and infrastructure.

     

Today, the Jockey Club of Turkey organizes racing and breeding in Turkey with 8 racecourses (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Bursa, Elazig, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir) and 7 stud farms/covering stations (Bursa Karacabey, Izmit, Istanbul/Silivri, Izmir/Torbali, Adana/Seyhan, Sanliurfa, Eskisehir/Mahmudiye), with a total turnover reaching 1 Billion Euros on 550 racedays in a year, all telecasted live through TJK TV. In Turkish racing industry; there are some 5.250 Owners, 3.600 Grooms, 500 Jockeys, 600 Apprentice Jockeys, 1.200 Trainers, 2,500 Off Track Betting Shops with 10,000 Employees and 2,000 TJK Employees. Adding to them the rural employment that the sector creates, the direct employment in the industry is more than 30.000 people.

Today TJK owns 25 well-known stallions among which are Lion Heart (USA), Okawango (USA), Divine Light (JPN), Powerscourt (GB), Cuvee (USA), Dehere (USA), Mountain Cat (USA), Eagle Eyed (USA), Always A Classic (CAN), Strike The Gold (USA) and many others as well as 13 purebred Arabian stallion among which are Haberbatur, Rikardo, Odinhan, Ibocan, etc.

Please click www.tjk.org for official web site of TJK.