Recreation in Argentina
Families often go to the Atlantic coast in summer. Mar del Plata, southeast of Buenos Aires, is a popular destination for summer holidays. In winter, many Argentinians enjoy Andinismo, which means hiking, mountain-climbing or alpine or cross-country skiing in the Andes mountains.
Pato (duck) is a special Argentinian sport, first played by the Gauchos (cowboys). Pato was originally played by two teams on horseback using a duck in a leather pouch with handles. Two players would grab the handles and pull until one let go. The winning team would ride away, while the opposing team tried to stop them and grab the pato. The sport became dangerous and was banned in 1882. In the late 1930s, it was revived with new rules. Now two teams of four men on horseback attempt to throw the modern pato, a leather ball with six handles, into one of two baskets at either end of a large field.
Horse racing is another popular spectator sport. Races are held throughout the year. The two most important events are the Argentine Republic Prize, held in April, and the Grand National in November.
Tennis was once a sport reserved for the wealthy until the Argentinian Guillermo Vilas did well in international competitions. Now it is played by young people throughout the country. Gabriela Sabatini, also of Argentina, was ranked as one of the world's top women tennis players during her teenage years.