Big week in Baden-Baden - Iffezheim from 29 August to 5 September
Baden-Baden/Iffezheim, August 26, 2021 (tac). "We had a third of the time, half the staff and offer the full program. The only thing missing is double the number of visitors." Peter Gaul, majority owner of Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG and his team took over the Baden-Baden - Iffezheim racecourse as new operators on April 1, 2021 - now they are launching the Great Week 2021.
Six Group Races, three Listed Races plus one Listed Race for Arabian Thoroughbreds and two Auction Races are the highlights of the 46 races on August 29, September 1, 4 and 5: So to speak international Champions League and Bundesliga of gallop sport. A total of almost one million euros in prize money will be offered.
"We have managed to put together a really fine Big Week with four extra-large racing days in less than five months. Our Sales & Racing Festival in October is also well on its way. And then we were lucky: With its new Corona Ordinance, our state government was a pioneer in Germany. It makes it possible to make the Big Week a celebration for all of us." Gaul is relieved and satisfied.
Corona and pandemic rules: Between hope and trepidation
Stephan Buchner, managing partner of Baden Galopp, describes the "sword of Damocles incidence" that had hung over the world-famous race week since the track was taken over: "According to the old regulations, which were based solely on incidences until August 15, we would have had to run the Great Week almost without spectators, i.e. de facto cancel it." Fixed planning was almost impossible; the supporting program had to be reduced. Now Baden Galopp is allowed to let in 50 percent of the normally admitted spectators if they are vaccinated, recovered or tested according to "3G." Those who have forgotten test or proof can be tested on site. Masks are not required outside the "crowd zones" at the entrance, snack stands or restrooms: The spacious grounds make it easy to keep your distance. Visitors are also allowed to toast each other with a glass of sparkling wine or beer.
Because the changes came at very short notice, however, Buchner assumes that the maximum number of 10,000 guests will not be reached. Due to the pandemic, Baden Galopp also had to cut back heavily on advertising: "If we had used the normal advertising budget and the Big Week had been cancelled, that would have been fatal," explains Gaul, in civilian life head of Mannheim-based B.A.U. GmbH & Co. KG.
Regional economy stands by the racecourse
Entrepreneur Gaul is all the more pleased with the support of the regional economy for the traditional race week: The entrepreneurs represented in the Förderverein Baden Galopp Iffezheim e.V. as well as medium-sized companies have taken on sponsorships for races and donated race prizes. They include Baden-Airpark, the Artus Group, Franz-Brauerei, Kronimus AG and Mercedes dealer Wackenhut, as well as local radio station Die Neue Welle. Race sponsors from the region also include the municipalities of Iffezheim and Muggensturm, the cities of Rastatt and Baden-Baden, and the Baden-Baden municipal utility company.
Wettstar, one of the best-known betting providers in Germany and the biggest supporter of German racing, will be the main sponsor of the 149th Wettstar Grand Prix of Baden and other races this year.
The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, Lotto / EuroJackpot and the Zastrow Foundation are traditionally involved as sponsors. Other supporters include Albers Wettbörse, BGV-Badische Versicherungen, Clean Lady, the Iffezheim Training Center, the studs Brümmerhof, Coolmore, Darley, Etzean, Görlsdorf, Mehl Mülhens Stiftung Gestüt Röttgen; Regina and Andreas Hacker, Misses Brandenburg Bozena Mainas, NetPlans, Parkwache Fuchs and Tattersalls.
Peter Gaul is particularly grateful to those who support the Great Week in difficult restart and pandemic times out of sheer enthusiasm for the sport of galloping. Gaul mentions here Renate and Albrecht Woeste, who have taken over the sponsorship of the Future Race, the first Blacktype race for two-year-olds in Germany.
The early visitor avoids jostling stress
Advance ticket sales are better than in previous years, but the advance ticket sales were only expanded to include standing room this year. The box offices and the grounds open at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively, on race days and Saturday, September 4. Baden-Galopp recommends further the surcharge-free advance booking via the homepage of www.badengalopp.de or directly at www.ticketmaster.de:"Then it goes much faster at the entrance." Children under 12 years have free admission on all race days. Who comes early, has time for a breakfast coffee before the first race and avoids stress and crowds at the entrance.
"Cue coffee": Kling-Huber Eventservice from Heuchelheim supplies visitors to the food stations on the grounds and the à la carte restaurants Schwarzwald-Terrasse and Wein-Terrasse. Baden Galopp has engaged Gaul's Catering from Mainz as the new caterer for the Bénazet Grandstand. The name-giving entrepreneur is not related to Peter Gaul.
"We look forward to seeing you - hat or no hat!"
Buchner hopes that people who previously had no connection to horse racing will also take the opportunity to finally attend and enjoy a major outdoor event again: "3G and the extensive grounds offer the greatest possible security." Buchner laughs, "And, very importantly, you don't need a hat or a suit. Watching fast horses and guessing who's going to make the race goes in any elevator and is a lot of fun even with jeans and a baseball cap or all the way up without one!" If you still feel like wearing a hat, there are two hat stands on the course; the racetrack store is also open.
For visitors who want to learn more about racing, Baden Galopp has put together a Galopp ABC - available on the website at https://www.badengalopp.de/rennbahnerlebnis/galopp-abc/.
BBAG Yearling Auction: "The best catalog ever".
The Great Week is unthinkable without the yearling auction in the auction ring at the racecourse. Klaus Eulenberger, Managing Director of the Baden-Badener Auktionsgesellschaft e.V., is enthusiastic: "At our yearling auction on September 3, we present the best catalog ever - German breeders entrust us with 223 of their most promising yearlings." BBAG, one of the most renowned auction companies for thoroughbred horses in Germany, is also one of the shareholders of Baden Galopp. Eulenberger is especially looking forward to the Renate-und-Albrecht-Woeste Future Race on September 1, two days before the auction. The Group III race is the first Blacktype race for two-year-olds in Germany. "Here we will see how the horses from last year's auction have developed. The outcome of this race has also had a high influence on our auction results in recent years." A Blacktype horse has finished first, second or third in at least one Group or Listed race. Soccer fans compare Group 3 races like this one to the European Cup.
The program of the big week includes two highly remunerated BBAG "auction races". The auction races are not sales races, as the name suggests, but only horses that were offered as yearlings at a BBAG auction may participate here - whether they were sold or not is irrelevant. Two-year-old mares will compete in the Darley BBAG Auction Race on Aug. 29; the BBAG Yearling Auction Prize on Sept. 1 is for today's three-year-old horses from 2019 auctions.
Betting tips not only from specialized media
"How does betting work anyway?" Anyone who wants to know can find information about this at https://www.badengalopp.de/galopp/wetten/. Also of interest are the "press tips" from trade journalists, which are posted on the press board at the Toto main building. The tips of an extended panel of journalists are also available at some betting offices: Here, even non-Galopp specialists can take part in the betting. In addition, many newspapers and online media publish the odds on the morning of the race days.
"www means 'weather will be'"
For days, the Baden Galopp team has been looking at the weather map: "Although the weather god sometimes decides even more at short notice than the administrations, as things stand at the moment, we are expecting good racecourse weather," Buchner is pleased: "Too warm to sit at home, but too cool for the bathing lake."
PRESS RELEASE
Big week in Baden-Baden - Iffezheim from 29 August to 5 September
Sporting Highlights at the Great Week in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim 2021
Baden-Baden/Iffezheim, August 26, 2021 (MH). The gallop world looks to Baden-Baden, more precisely to the racecourse Iffezheim: From August 29 to September 5, 2021, the Great Week, the first race meeting under the direction of Baden Galopp, offers racing in a class of its own.
Six group races, three list races, as well as a list race for Arabian thoroughbreds, two auction races - the program leaves nothing to be desired. On the four race days, race prizes amounting to around one million euros will be distributed. 46 races are scheduled over a wide range of distances and for a wide range of age groups. On three of the four race days, part of the program will also be broadcast to the approximately 13,000 betting shops in France - with sales in the millions, which are a significant factor in financing the race prizes. For this reason, the racing days on the two Sundays and on Wednesday will begin in the late morning.
The highlights of each race day:
- Race day - 29.08.2021:
Eleven races are on the card, first start is at 11:20 am.
- 66th Prize of the Savings Banks Financial Group, Group III - 50.000 €:
This is where seasoned older Group horses meet, such as Quest the Moon, who won the Grand Prix of the Baden Economy in 2020 and the Future Race a year earlier.
The race is in the tradition of the Spreti Race, named after Count Spreti, who plays an important role in the history of the racecourse. Since 1998, the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe has been the main sponsor of the competition. A year ago there was one of the most exciting duels of the year between Wai Key Star and Itobo.
- Darley BBAG auction race - 102,500 €:
Two-year-old mares compete here for a very high cash prize. The owner of the winner alone will receive 50,000 euros. Only horses that were offered here as yearlings at a BBAG auction are eligible to compete. Best Flying from the stable of Andreas Suborics, who impressed in France, and Atomic Blonde for champion trainer Henk Grewe are expected to be far ahead here. Sponsor is with Darley one of the leading studs, owned by Sheik Mohammed from Dubai.
- City of Baden-Baden Steher Cup - List Race - 25.000 €:
Endurance qualities are required on the long 2,800-meter course. It is an important test for the St. Leger on September 19 in Dortmund. Cologne-based trainer Peter Schiergen has good chances with the Swiss-owned Nubius.
- Race day - 01.09.2021:
Eleven races are included in the program, first start is at 11:35 am.
- Renate and Albrecht Woeste Future Race - Group III - 50.000 €:
The first group race for the youngest age group, the two-year-old horses, has been held over 1,400 meters for several years. For the first time, it is under the patronage of Albrecht Woeste, Honorary President of Deutscher Galopp, and his wife Renate. Many leading trainers offer their young talents here. Like Peter Schiergen, who competes with Rocchigiani, named after the legendary boxer. His debut was impressive. Bauyrzhan Murzabayev is the current champion in the saddle. The jockey from Kazakhstan has dominated the scene in the last two years. With Arnis Master and See Hector also start the two protagonists of the Cologne auction race, both acquired at BBAG.
- Price of the BBAG yearling auction - 52.000 €:
Horses that were in the ring at the BBAG are also eligible to start here, but in 2019, as three-year-olds are addressed. Several Derby starters could compete on the 2,400-meter course, such as Imi, who placed third in Hamburg and is owned by Holger Renz from Cologne, who gives his horses "Cologne" names (Imi means Zugereister) and who now has one of his residences in Baden-Baden.
- Coolmore Stud Baden-Baden Cup - €25,000:
The mare race is in the tradition of the Prize of the City of Baden-Baden, which is over 100 years old. Exactly 20 years ago, Coolmore from Ireland, one of the most successful stud farms in the world, took over the partnership. Three-year-old and older mares compete here over 1,400 meters. With Marshmallow, the Brümmerhof stud seems very prominently represented, the breeder of the German wonder mare Danedream.
- Race day - 04.09.2021:
Twelve races have been announced, first start is at 1 pm.
- T. von Zastrow Mare Prize - Group II - 65.000 €:
The von Zastrow family has been the partner of the Iffezheim racecourse for several years and has always ensured a very attractive endowment for one of the most important mare races in Germany, even in Corona times. 65,000 euros beckon this time for the three-year-old and older horse ladies at the 2,400 meter distance.
Once again, there could be a rematch of the Prize of Diana, with second-placed Isfahani (for the team of jockey Andrasch Starke, trainer Henk Grewe and jockey Andrasch Starke of Derby winner Sisfahan) or Amazing Grace, who failed to race in the Classic.
- 151st Casino Baden-Baden Golden Whip - Group III - €50,000:
The most coveted honorary prize in German gallop racing is awarded in the most important short-distance race in this country - a gold-plated whip. Special feature: the names of all winners since 1867 are engraved here. Iffezheim has been home to the 1,200-meter race since 1953. In 2020, Namos ensured the first German success since 2015; in between, only horses from abroad won.
Last year's runner-up Majestic Colt (owned by Dubai big owner Jaber Abdullah) and Rubaiyat (2019 Galopper of the Year) and the up-and-coming mare Dibujaba could be in the mix.
- WACKENHUT Mercedes - Benz Fillies Cup - Listed race - 25.000 €:
Also in this 1,800 meter test, three-year-old and older mares are addressed. Here, Stefanie Koyuncu and Mario Hofer, a daughter/sire team with Dima, who won a similar race in Berlin-Hoppegarten, will attack.
- Race day - 05.09.2021:
Twelve races are scheduled, with the first start at 11:20 am.
The most important race for three-year-old and older horses in Germany, a mile highlight, twelve races and much more - the final Sunday of the Great Week promises to be one of the festive days of the year in German gallop racing.
- 149th WETTSTAR Grand Prix of Baden - Group I - 160.000 €:
Under the new patronage of WETTSTAR, the most important broker for horse betting in German racing, is the 149th Wettstar Grand Prix of Baden. 160,000 euros are up for grabs over the 2,400-meter course, with 100,000 euros going into the winner's account. This absolute highlight of the racing season has been held in Iffezheim since 1858, when the racecourse was founded. The race has great international appeal and has served several times as an ideal preparatory race for the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe on the first Sunday in October in Paris-Longchamp.
Especially fondly remembered is Danedream, the 2011 and 2012 winner, who in 2011 became the second German horse ever to win the Arc.
The new edition promises to be Germany's best 2021 gallop race to date. The competition will be particularly fascinating due to the first appearance of the 2021 Derby winner: Sisfahan, trained by champion Henk Grewe in Cologne for Stefan Oschmann's Darius Racing stable, will do the honors here after his triumph in Hamburg in the race of the year against Alter Adler, like possibly also the runner-up at the time. With Germany's top jockey Andrasch Starke in the saddle, Sisfahan now takes on the older luminaries for the first time.
One of them is Gestüt Auenquelle's Torquator Tasso, who finished third last year for Marcel Weiß, the new trainer from Mülheim, but has since caused a sensation in a wide variety of top events. Most recently, in the Grand Prix of Baden, he only failed to win against the English mare Alpinista after an unfavorable course of the race. Strong guests from abroad are also expected. In the past three years, a horse belonging to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed has always won.
- 88th Kronimus Oettingen Race - Group II - €65,000
This mile event is the highlight of the supporting program, has Group II status and runs over 1,600 meters. In the past two years, two Sheikh horses triumphed with Voyager and Dark Vision. French Group I winner The Revenant could challenge the German aces here, such as ex-series winner Jin Jin and especially classic 1,000 Guineas winner Novemba.
- T. von Zastrow Trophy - Equalization I - 15.000 €:
A handicap of the highest category and a very special betting chance of the day round off the top-class program.
Attractive guarantee payouts in the four-way bet:
On all four race days, Baden Galopp offers attractive guaranteed payouts in the four-horse bet. Here there is a guaranteed sum to be won for the person who predicts the first four horses in the correct order. If only one bettor succeeds in doing so, he or she collects the full sum, otherwise the amount is split. 50 cents is the minimum stake per betting slip. On the very first day of the race, there is a 50,000 euro guaranteed payout including a jackpot of 11,474.22 euros as well as a four-way bet with an 11,111 euro guarantee.