BUDAPEST (AFP) — Horses replaced cars on one of Budapest's main squares Saturday as the Hungarian capital held its first National Gallop festival to commemorate the Hungarian hussar cavalry tradition.
Ninety-six municipalities from around the country sent riders and horses to take part in the two-day event, which included horse races, historical parades, and a crafts fair.
The ring road around Budapest's Heroes' Square was covered with sand for the occasion and riders paraded in traditional costumes on Saturday.
Sixteen races were to take place on Sunday, followed by a charity race with local celebrities getting in the saddle and culminating in the finals.
Horsemen and women were delegated by their municipalities for a registration fee of 2 million forints (8,300 euros) and the winner of the race was to gallop home with 30 million forints (125,000 euros) for their sponsors and another 5 million forints (21,000 euros) for their municipality.
Organisers of the event, which aims to revive Hungarian hussar traditions, were hoping to create a national event similar to Germany's Oktoberfest in Munich and Pamplona's bull runs.
Between 25,000 and 30,000 people wandered around Heroes' Square in Saturday's unusually hot weather, although organisers expected more than 100,000 over the weekend.
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