Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
right-wing ties: this was the fascists' team before the war, and some of its supporters pre-
serve its reputation for thuggishness and anti-Semitism. It plays at the newly redeveloped
25,000-capacity Albert Flórián Stadium next to the road towards the airport.
MTK
VIII, Salgótarján utca 12-14 1 333 8368,
mtkhungaria.hu
; tram #37 from Blaha
Lujza tér.
Fradi's big local rival, “Em-tay-kah” - as it is popularly known - has traditionally
had strong support among the Jewish community. Second only to Ferencváros in terms of
the number of domestic league titles won, and despite being the last Budapest side to win
the league (in 2008), these days MTK are consistently a middle-ranking side in the top tier.
MTK's Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium (capacity 12,700) was the setting for scenes in the film
Escape to Victory
.
Újpest
IV, Megyeri út 13 1 231 0088,
ujpestfc.hu
;
four stops on bus #30 from Újpest
Központ metro station.
Formed in 1885, Újpest have traditionally been one of the power-
houses of Hungarian football, enjoying particularly golden periods in the 1930s - when it
supplied half of the Hungarian national team that were runners-up in the 1938 World Cup -
and the 1970s,when they reached the semi-finals ofthe European Cup in 1974.Knownas the
Lilák (Purples) - after the club colours - Újpest play at the 13,000 all-seater Szusza Ferenc
Stadium north of the city.
Honvéd
XIX, Puskás Ferenc utca 1-3 1 357 6738,
honvedfc.hu
;
Six stops on bus #42
from Határ út metro station.
Founded as Kispest in 1904, they assumed the mantle of the
army team in 1949, and their name was changed to Honvéd. Their glory days of the 1950s
owed much to having the likes of Puskás, Kocsis and Bozsik (the backbone of the Mighty
Magyars) in their side. The 1980s was another hugely successful decade, but since then the
team has yo-yoed between the top two divisions. Honvéd play at the 7,200-capacity Bozsik
József Stadium, southeast of the centre.
HORSE RACING
Horse racing was introduced from England by Count Széchenyi in 1827 and flourished until
1949, when flat racing (
galopp
) was banned by the Communists. For many years punters
could only enjoy trotting races, but in the mid-1980s flat racing resumed.
Betting
operates
on a tote system, where your returns are affected by how the odds stood at the close of bet-
ting. The different types of bet comprise
tét
, placing money on the winner;
hely
, on a horse
coming in the first three; and the popular
befutó,
a bet on two horses to come in either first
and second or first and third. Winnings are paid out about fifteen minutes after the end of the
race.
Kincsem Park
X, Albertirsai út 2-6; Pillangó utca on the red metro, and then either walk
or catch #100 bus.
Flat racing takes place here on Sundays from April to November; trotting
-
ügető
, where the horse is harnessed to a light carriage - is all year round, mostly on Sat.
