ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the leisure phenomenon of straight-legged horse racing that have been taking place at least since the 19th century in southern Brazil. We seek to understand this phenomenon as a modernity hidden face, symbolized by the horse racing clubs that were established in Brazilian large cities from the second half of the 19th century. Such analysis is made from various sources such as literature, government documents, newspapers, magazines and criminal proceedings. From this varied documentation, we can see the perenniality of this phenomenon that has become a cultural symbol of the region, and is currently a historical heritage of Rio Grande do Sul.
Keywords:
leisure; sport; modernity; horses; Rio Grande do Sul