Back in the running? Mijas considers four proposals for abandoned horse-racing complex

Mijas could be looking at a new future for its former Costa del Sol racecourse, more than 14 years after the last regular horse races were held there. The town hall is considering at least four proposals to give the 380,000-square-metre complex a new lease of life, although what the projects involve has not yet been made public.

The possibility of bringing horse racing back has not been ruled out, but there is no guarantee that the venue will return to its original purpose. The council is looking at ways to make better use of the extensive grounds, with equestrian activities, sport and leisure all featuring in its vision for the future.

The latest developments follow a lengthy legal and financial process which saw the council regain full ownership of the original racecourse land. In December 2025, councillors unanimously agreed to dissolve Recursos Turísticos de Mijas SA, the company established to manage the facility, and appoint a liquidator.

The Mijas Town Hall announcement confirmed that the original 380,000-square-metre plot had returned to full municipal ownership.

From international racing to years of decline

Opened in June 1999, the Hipódromo Costa del Sol was an ambitious attempt to attract international visitors during the quieter winter tourism season.

The project was particularly aimed at British and Nordic visitors, with horse racing offering an attraction when many northern European courses were closed because of the weather.

Its early success was impressive. Around 15,000 spectators attended the Gran Premio Día de Andalucía in March 2001, with visitors reportedly arriving on charter flights to watch the racing. The venue also hosted major music performances, including Elton John, Lenny Kravitz and Rod Stewart, as organisers looked for ways to generate income beyond race days.

However, disagreements over funding, administrative restrictions and mounting debts eventually brought the racing operation to an end. The last regular racing season was in 2012. Financial difficulties continued, and the management company entered insolvency proceedings in May 2018.

What happens to the racecourse now?

Although much of the complex has suffered from years of neglect, it would be wrong to suggest that the entire site has closed. Parts of the grounds are heavily overgrown, and substantial work would be needed to bring the facilities up to modern standards and meet current legal and safety requirements.

However, the stables remain open and are regularly used, particularly by local equestrian associations. Other activities, including equine therapy, the municipal gym, an athletics track and the Samuel Oliva show-jumping school, have also continued.

The town hall’s announcement on the ownership change confirmed that these existing activities would continue.

Mayor Ana Mata has reiterated her intention to return the complex to sporting and leisure use. Following the publication of former mayor Antonio Maldonado’s book about the rise and fall of the racecourse, she also confirmed that the council was examining proposals from interested businesses.

There is currently no confirmed redevelopment timetable, no preferred operator has been announced and the contents of the four proposals remain unknown.

For now, the future of one of the Costa del Sol’s most ambitious sporting projects is still an open question. Whether Mijas eventually hears the thunder of racehorses again, or finds a different use for the extensive site, remains to be seen.

The municipality now has the opportunity to find a sustainable future for a facility that once attracted thousands of visitors but has spent years waiting for its next chapter.