Image: Award ceremony following Fantastic Moon’s victory in the WETTSTAR.de – 154th Baden Grand Prix; www.marcruehl.com / Use of this image is free of charge in connection with reporting on 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 2, 2024 (MH) – Nearly 50,000 spectators, another increase in betting revenue, a great atmosphere amid midsummer temperatures, and a worthy winner in the main event—the 2024 Grosse Woche, the most important racing meet at the Baden-Baden-Iffezheim racetrack organized by Baden Galopp, came to a close on the final Sunday, September 1, with a truly festive celebration, marking a world-class event in the sport of horse racing.
On Sunday, 16,900 spectators attended the WETTSTAR.de – 154th Baden Grand Prix, sponsored for the third consecutive year by WETTSTAR, Germany’s leading horse betting broker. After the top-tier (Group I) race over 2,400 meters, with a purse of 300,000 euros, the celebration was immense, as Fantastic Moon—the 2023 Derby winner trained by Sarah Steinberg in Munich—triumph not only as a German star thoroughbred but also as the standout horse from Liberty Racing’s 2021 stable, the highly successful and large-scale ownership syndicate led by Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, which 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 outpaced the highly touted Dubai Honor, an English visitor who had already earned nearly 4 million euros on various continents and is now aiming to race again in Hong Kong.
Sale or Arc? Paris is the next destination
But the celebrations were all for the Fantastic Moon team, which had been declared a non-starter at the last minute a year ago but now, on a suitably dry track, kicked into high gear and secured Sarah Steinberg’s second victory in this turf event in 2022—following her win at Mendocino. Rene Piechulek had also added his name to the list of winners of Baden’s top race—held since 1858—in 2021 with Torquator Tasso, who went on to become an Arc hero. Paris is 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.
Over 12 million euros in revenue in the World Pool
For the third time, the WETTSTAR.de – 154th Baden Grand Prix was broadcast live to Hong Kong, Asia’s betting mecca, and for the second time, the most important race at Germany’s premier racetrack, Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, was part of the World Pool—managed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club—with its millions in betting turnover. For the first time, bets from around the world converged here across five races—more races than ever before on a single day at a German horse racing track. The revenue figures speak for themselves: the total reached the equivalent of 12.1 million euros. Our thanks go to the WETTSTAR team for their extensive preparation and execution over the past days and weeks. Of course, the betting giant Pari Mutuel Urban (PMU) also broadcast numerous races to France—not only on the final day but also on two other days of the “Große Woche.”
The officials at Baden Galopp also had reason to be satisfied with the other figures. With 1,446,358.62 euros on Sunday, the track fell just short of the previous year’s revenue total of 1,457,669.94 euros. However, given the extreme heat, several small starting fields, and the fact that the four-horse wagers had to be held in races other than the World Pool races—with lower guaranteed payouts than in 2023—it was hardly possible to do better. Nevertheless, German revenue on Sunday was 5 percent higher than the previous year. Once again, the significantly higher international revenue from the World Pool races had a very positive effect.
With 3,760,557.83 euros generated across the 50 races, the total revenue for 2023 (3,691,637.20 euros) was once again significantly exceeded. Turnover per race also increased, reaching 75,211.16 euros (compared to 73,832.74 euros last year). Once again, over 1.5 million euros in race purses were distributed. Unfortunately, fielding enough horses for some races remains challenging due to the continued decline in the number of racehorses in training in Germany. Fortunately, after the cancellation of the final Sunday at the Spring Meeting, the Grand Week was spared from rain; however, four of the five race days were marked by extreme heat. This did not dampen the festive mood. A total of 49,900 visitors came to Iffezheim during the meeting—slightly more than in 2023—a fact that Baden Galopp was delighted to report.
Sauren Doubles on the Group Court
Every day featured top-notch racing, especially, of course, in the group races. Eckhard Sauren’s former serial winner Downtown capped off his career for trainer Henk Grewe with a victory in the 69th Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe Prize, ridden by Thore Hammer-Hansen, the son of former Iffezheim trainer Lennart Hammer-Hansen, who tops the jockey standings. Al Shabab Storm, now at Andrew Balding’s top stable in England, secured victory in the 154th Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Pietsche—the most important sprint race in the country, contested for the coveted prize: a gold-plated whip.
The final race of the 151st Renate and Albrecht Woeste “Zukunfts-Rennen” was very exciting, with Santagada from Park Wieding, riding with Sibylle Vogt, defending her perfect record as she swept through the field at tremendous speed. Trainer Peter Schiergen also had the runner-up, Dhitjari.
Once again, “God Save the King” was played after the T. von Zastrow Mare Stakes, when the English filly Tiffany, trained by Sir Mark Prescott, claimed her second major victory of the year in Iffezheim, following her win in the Baden-Baden Hotel & Gastronomy Stakes at the spring meet.
Like an international star racehorse, the three-year-old Penalty triumphed in the 91st Brunner-Oettingen Race on Sunday, securing the second Group victory for owner Eckhard Sauren, trainer Henk Grewe, and jockey Thore Hammer-Hansen during the "Grosse Woche."
Hammer-Hansen and Schiergen Are the Meeting Champions
Of course, with 7 wins, Thore Hammer-Hansen was also the most successful jockey of the race week, ahead of Bauyrzhan Murzabayev (6 wins) and Rene Piechulek (5 wins). Among the trainers, Peter Schiergen clearly secured the meet championship with 6 wins, ahead of Yasmin Almenräder (3 wins on the final Sunday). SWR Television won the Press Cup.
850,000 euros – Record price at the BBAG Yearling Auction
Germany’s most important horse auction, the BBAG Yearling Auction, also made major headlines on the race-free Friday (August 30). Del Maro, offered by Gestüt Brümmerhof, fetched 850,000 euros—an all-time record price in the history of the Iffezheim auctions. Godolphin Stables, owned by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed, proved to have the most staying power in a thrilling bidding war among global players in the international horse racing scene. Total sales at the auction amounted to 7,410,500 euros.
A varied supporting program featuring two after-race parties, a style contest on Ladies’ Day, and a wide range of culinary offerings delighted visitors even off the green turf.
Stephan Buchner, managing partner of Baden Galopp, offered this initial assessment: “These were challenging days for our entire team, but it was worth it. Despite the tropical temperatures, attendance at the races was excellent and the atmosphere at the track was fantastic. We saw top international horses and a fantastic performance by Fantastic Moon in the 154th Wettstar.de Baden Grand Prix. Overall, we are very satisfied with how the “Grosse Woche” went.”
A Thrilling Finale at the Sales & Racing Festival
In just six and a half weeks, we can look forward to the grand 2024 season finale in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim—the Sales & Racing Festival from October 18 to 20, featuring two top-class race days and the BBAG Fall Auction.
Further dates for Baden Galopp 2024 racing events
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 18
Sunday, October 20
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Andre Lott
Press contact
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
