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SARGA.CO – Let’s take a moment to imagine Jakarta in the 1970s–1980s. Skyscrapers were not as numerous as they are today. At that time, Jakarta still had many green open spaces where people gathered. These places were scattered throughout the city. One of them was located in East Jakarta.
Every weekend, this place was always crowded with residents coming from various parts of Jakarta. They all came for one reason: to enjoy the entertainment of horse racing at Pulo Mas.
As the name suggests, this horse racing venue was located in Pulo Mas, East Jakarta. In its time, this place became the center of horse racing as well as an elite recreational spot in Jakarta.
From families who came just to watch, racing enthusiasts, to fanatic spectators who were willing to arrive early to get the best spots. The cheers of the crowd, the pounding of hooves, and the spirit of competition made the atmosphere truly come alive.
Pulo Mas Horse Racing Track was built in the late 1960s during the era of Governor Ali Sadikin. At that time, the governor was actively developing public sports and entertainment facilities.
Quoting from the Pordasi.co website, this international-standard racetrack in Pulomas, Jakarta, was established on 7 June 1971. With a track length of 1,800 meters, the horse racing field was already equipped with spectator stands and stables for 800 horses.
The Pulomas horse racing track was built through cooperation between the DKI Jakarta government and private parties. Advanced equipment and the horse racing totalisator system were introduced to the Indonesian public for the first time.
When the construction was completed, this place immediately became an icon in the early 1970s. At its time, Pulo Mas Horse Racing was regarded as one of the most modern and advanced racetracks in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the horses used were thoroughbreds imported from Australia as well as local breeds or crossbred hybrids.
The management of the Pulomas horse racing track at that time was handed over to Djakarta Racing Management (DRM-JRM). Every week, races were held 2–3 times. At least 400–800 horses were needed each year.
Unfortunately, the development of Pulomas horse racing began to slowly decline in the 1980s. This was triggered by the abolition of totalizators, which negatively impacted the decline of horse racing activities.
Pulomas Horse Racing Track came back to life in 2016. The government decided to carry out a total renovation. Its name was also changed to Jakarta International Equestrian Park Pulomas (JIEPP).
After massive renovations began during the era of DKI Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the arena was inaugurated on 2 August 2018 by the next DKI Jakarta Governor, Anies Baswedan. This arena was used as the venue for equestrian competitions at the Asian Games 2018.
JIEPP currently has an area of 35 hectares with a four-story main pavilion with a seating capacity of 1,500 people, stables for 156 horses, athlete accommodation, a horse hospital, a horse walker, and the best training facilities in Indonesia.
Now, this area has transformed into Jakarta International Equestrian Park (JIEP)—a modern, international-standard arena. However, the emotional traces and the roar of the crowd from decades ago remain an interesting part of this city’s history.
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