NOT JUST RACES, BUT THE PARK TOO
The history of the botanical park

Around the racetracks, the beating heart of the racecourses, a natural setting steeped in history and culture envelops and captivates all those who enter. Autumn 1918 saw planting and transplants of specimens from the nearby Lido area of Milan. Today there are 72 tree species, partly native, partly imported from various countries of the world. The architect Vietti Violi, designer of the entire sports facility, also took care of the greenery of the area and especially the main entrance, installing a large fountain and “colonial” style decor with Cicas and Camerops Excelsa palms, typical of many important villas of the time.


Watercolour with the building at the entrance and the fountain. Sketch for the flower arrangement with the logos of San Siro’s sponsors
© San Siro Racecourses Archive

Shot taken from outside the racecourse.
© San Siro Racecourses Archive

Entrance with fountain.
© San Siro Racecourses Archive
NATURE PROGRAMME

From 1919 onwards Count Emilio Turati, a passionate botanist, gradually endowed the Park with rare specimens from various parts of the world. Botanical cards were subsequently produced that made it possible to create the “Nature Programme”: a brochure that collects this arboreal heritage and brings it to light.


The brochure “The Park of San Siro – Nature Programme”.
© San Siro Racecourses Archive

Photographic portrait of “A famous visitor to San Siro: Ernest Hemingway”.
© San Siro Racecourses Archive
THE TREE SPECIES OF THE PARK

Magnolia
© San Siro Racecourses Archive


© San Siro Racecourses Archive


© San Siro Racecourses Archive


© San Siro Racecourses Archive
THE CHERRY TREE OF FALBRAV

Since the 1930s, the park has been adorned with trees thanks in part to the owners of the winning horses of the Jockey Club Grand Prix, who donated a plant to the racecourse on the occasion of each victory. The last planting in 2002 concerned the great feat of the horse Falbrav at the Japan Cup, for which the Milanese champion’s owner donated a cherry tree, one of the most representative species of Japan.

Planting the cherry tree in honour of the horse Falbrav in the park of the San Siro Racecourse, 2002.
© San Siro Racecourses Archive