Hipódromo (Asunción)
Hipódromo is a barrio of Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. It's a relatively new neighbourhood with a population of 8,348 people, and provides one of the biggest green areas in Asunción. The name comes from the Spanish meaning of the word Hippodrome, which stands for "horse race track". This is because the largest horse race track in Paraguay, the Hipódromo de Asunción, lies within this barrio.
The name of the streets generally carry the name of characteristic trees from the Paraguayan countryside or the name of native tribes of South America.
This barrio is home to a large number of open areas of recreational uses such as small parks and plazas. Besides having the Jockey Club other important institutions reside in Hipódromo, such as the Institute of Superior Teaching, the National School of Physical Education, National Sports Council and the Paraguayan Tennis Association.
One of the most particular sites of this barrio is the "Champions Village" section. The residents of this village are the former players of the women's Paraguay national basketball team that won the 1952 and 1962 Women's South American Championships. The village was built in the early 1970s when then President Alfredo Stroessner recognized the merit of the players by building them houses.
