Horse Racing -- Races run Monday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Jockey Clube de São Paulo (Av. Lineu Paula Machado 1263, Cidade Jardim; tel. 011/2161-8300). On Monday races start at 6pm; on Saturday and Sunday the races start at 1:30pm. Minimum bet is R$1 (US40¢). The club has a restaurant open for dinner Monday through Friday and for lunch on weekends; the bar Cantér is popular even with those who don't watch the races.

Motor Racing -- Important races such as the Brazil Formula 1 Grand-Prix take place at the Autódromo de Interlagos, Av. Senador Toetônia Vilela 259. Call tel. 011/5521-9911. Tickets for this sought-after event sell out up to 6 months in advance; try the GP Brasil website for information on upcoming dates.

Soccer -- The big clubs in town are São Paulo, Corinthians, Palmeiras, and Portuguesa. Any match between these teams is likely worth seeing. So are all the state championships. Deciphering soccer schedules is the stuff of serious scholarship; better to just ask your hotel clerk or bellboy if there are any big games coming up. The city's big stadium is the Morumbi, located in the Morumbi neighborhood at Praça Roberto Gomes Pedrosa 1 (tel. 011/3742-3377).