Picture: Award ceremony after Fantastic Moon's success in the WETTSTAR.de - 154th Grand Prix of Baden; www.marcruehl.com / The use of the picture is free of charge in connection with the coverage of Baden Galopp
PRESS RELEASE
Big Week from August 24 - September 01, 2024 in Baden-Baden - Iffezheim:
Almost 50,000 spectators, another increase in betting turnover and over €12 million in the World Pool - a pleasing result for the Big Week 2024
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, September 02, 2024 (MH) - Almost 50,000 spectators, a further increase in betting turnover, a great atmosphere in midsummer temperatures and a worthy winner in the main event - the Great Week 2024, the most important race meeting at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim under the direction of Baden Galopp, ended on the final Sunday, September 01, with an absolute feast day and was a world event in horse racing.
16,900 spectators witnessed the WETTSTAR.de - 154th Grand Prix of Baden on Sunday, sponsored for the third time in a row by WETTSTAR, the most important broker of horse betting in Germany. After the €300,000 race in the highest category (Group I) over 2,400 meters, there was great jubilation, as the 2023 Derby winner Fantastic Moon, trained by Sarah Steinberg in Munich, not only triumphed with a German star galloper, but also the crack of Liberty Racing 2021, the highly successful and multi-headed owner community around Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, who had achieved the feat of winning the German Derby twice in a row in 2023 and 2024.
After a perfect ride by Rene Piechulek, Fantastic Moon also outraced the highly rated Dubai Honour, an English guest who had already earned almost 4 million euros on various continents and is now aiming to race in Hong Kong again.
Sale or Arc? Paris the next destination
However, the team celebrated with Fantastic Moon, who had been declared a non-runner at short notice a year ago, but now ignited his turbo on suitably dried ground and ensured Sarah Steinberg's second success in this turf event after Mendocino in 2022 in grand style. Rene Piechulek had also entered his name in the list of winners of the top Baden test, which has been held since 1858, in 2021 with the later Arc hero Torquator Tasso. Paris is also likely to be the next destination for the newly crowned winner, whether at the Arc Sale or in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be decided shortly.
Turnover of over 12 million euros in the World Pool
For the third time, the WETTSTAR.de - 154th Grand Prix of Baden was broadcast live to the Asian betting Eldorado of Hong Kong, and for the second time, the most important race at Germany's premium racecourse Baden-Baden-Iffezheim was part of the World Pool managed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club with its millions in turnover. For the first time, bets from all over the world came together in five races, more than ever before at a German racecourse in one day. The turnover figures speak for themselves: the equivalent of 12.1 million euros was achieved here. We would like to thank the WETTSTAR team for the extensive preparation and implementation over the last few days and weeks. Of course, the betting multinational Pari Mutuel Urban (PMU) also broadcast numerous races to France, not only on the final day but also on two other days of the Big Week.
Those responsible at Baden Galopp were also satisfied with the other figures. With €1,446,358.62 on Sunday, the previous year's turnover of €1,457,669.94 was missed by a small margin. But with the intense heat, several small starting fields and the fact that the four-horse bets did not have to be held in the World Pool races but in other classes with lower guaranteed payouts than in 2023, it was hardly possible to do more. Nevertheless, German turnover on Sunday was 5 percent higher than in the previous year. Once again, the significantly higher foreign turnover in the World Pool races had a very positive effect.
With 3,760,557.83 euros in the 50 races, the total turnover of 2023 (3,691,637.20 euros) was once again significantly exceeded. At 75,211.16 euros per race (compared to 73,832.74 euros last year), there was also an increase. Once again, over 1.5 million euros in race prizes were distributed. Unfortunately, the number of racehorses in training in Germany continues to decline, making it difficult to fill some races. Fortunately, after the cancellation of the final Sunday at the spring meeting, there was no rain during the Great Week, but it was very hot on four of the five race days. This did not dampen the festive atmosphere. A total of 49,900 visitors came to Iffezheim during the meeting, almost more than in 2023, which Baden Galopp was delighted about.
Sauren double on the Group floor
The best racing was on offer on all days, especially of course in the group races. Eckhard Sauren's former series winner Downtown crowned his career for trainer Henk Grewe with success in the 69th Prize of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe with Thore Hammer-Hansen, the son of former Iffezheim trainer Lennart Hammer-Hansen, who leads the jockeys' statistics. Al Shabab Storm's victory in the 154th Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Pietsche, the most important sprint race in this country for the most coveted prize, a gold-plated whip, went to the top stable of Andrew Balding in England.
The final battle in the 151st Renate and Albrecht Woeste - Future Race was very exciting, in which Park Wiedingen's Santagada defended her clean slate with Sibylle Vogt as she rolled up the field with tremendous speed. Trainer Peter Schiergen also provided the runner-up with Dhitjari.
Once again "God Save the King" was played after the T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis when the Englishwoman Tiffany won a top race in Iffezheim for trainer Sir Mark Prescott for the second time this year after her victory in the Baden-Badener Hotellerie & Gastronomie Prize at the spring meeting.
Like an international star galloper, the three-year-old Penalty triumphed in the 91st Brunner-Oettingen-Rennen on Sunday and ensured the second group success for owner Eckhard Sauren, trainer Henk Grewe and jockey Thore Hammer-Hansen during the Great Week.
Hammer-Hansen and Schiergen the meeting champions
Of course, Thore Hammer-Hansen was also the most successful jockey of the race week with 7 wins, ahead of Bauyrzhan Murzabayev (6 wins) and Rene Piechulek (5 wins). Among the trainers, Peter Schiergen clearly secured the meeting championship with 6 wins ahead of Yasmin Almenräder (3 wins on the final Sunday). The Press Cup was won by SWR television.
850,000 euros - record price at the BBAG yearling auction
Germany's most important horse auction, the BBAG Yearling Auction, also made top headlines on Friday (August 30), when there was no racing. Del Maro, offered by Gestüt Brümmerhof, achieved an absolute record price of 850,000 euros in the history of the Iffezheim auctions. Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin stable had the longest breath here in an exciting battle between global players in international turf. The total turnover of the auction amounted to 7,410,500 euros.
A varied supporting program with two after-race parties, a style competition on Ladies Day and a wide range of culinary delights also delighted visitors away from the green turf.
Stephan Buchner, Managing Partner of Baden Galopp, in a first summary: "These were challenging days for our entire team, but it was worth it. Despite the tropical temperatures, the race days were extremely well attended and the atmosphere on the track was great. We saw top international horses and a fantastic Fantastic Moon in the 154th Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden. All in all, we are very satisfied with the course of the Great Week.
Top finale at the Sales & Racing Festival
In just six and a half weeks' time, you can look forward to the big 2024 season finale in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim - the Sales & Racing Festival from October 18 to 20 with two top-class racing days and the BBAG Autumn Auction.
Further dates for Baden Galopp 2024 racing events
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 18
Sunday, October 20
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Andre Lott
Contact Press
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
