The Buenos Aires Provincial Lottery and Casinos Institute held the fourth edition of Handicap at La Plata Racetrack, attracting over 20,000 attendees. The open-access event, organized as part of Carnival celebrations, combined gastronomy, live music and an artisan fair.
Gonzalo Atanasof, President of Lotería de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, said: “Once again our beloved Racetrack became an open-air meeting space, with a proposal to enjoy with friends and family. We are proud that Handicap is already part of the cultural and gastronomic offering of the Racetrack and that it attracts more and more people with diverse and quality proposals.”
The Carnival edition featured more than 100 vendor stands from La Plata and the surrounding region, offering clothing, accessories, footwear, toys, ceramics and natural cosmetics. The gastronomy sector included over 25 establishments with sweet and savory options.
Programming, hosted by Mica Cortese and her character Irma Beibi, included performances by the Sindicato de DJ collective focused on Latin American popular music. Additional activities included a children’s area coordinated by MATE, carnival parade performances and late-night dancing.
The initiative aligns with a broader strategy by the lottery institute to diversify the racetrack’s use beyond traditional racing operations. Over the past two years, the venue has undergone a modernization process under the leadership of Atanasof and racetrack administrator Mariano Cowen.
Upgrades include new LED track lighting, tribune renovations, entrance area enhancements, modernization of computer systems and improvements to veterinary services. The strategy aims to increase year-round utilization of the facility while creating complementary revenue streams linked to entertainment and community engagement.
La Plata Racetrack is one of Argentina’s three major thoroughbred racing venues and operates under the oversight of the provincial lottery authority
