More than 160 years of gallop racing in Iffezheim
History
The history of the racecourse dates back to 1858.
The casino operator Edouard Bénazet initiated the horse races as another social highlight at the gates of Baden-Baden. Initially, 3 grandstands were erected on the extensive grounds.
The event soon enjoyed great popularity and developed into a meeting place for the European aristocracy.
The Franco-Prussian War ended this first phase of the racecourse. In 1872, the International Club was founded, which from then on acted as the organizer of the horse races. Prince Carl Egon zu Fürstenberg was appointed as the first president.
In 1873, the first race day of the International Club took place and in the following year, 4 race days were held for the first time in August under the auspices of the new operator.
History forced the racecourse to take its first break from racing for almost 6 years between 1914 and 1920.
The Second World War also made it impossible to hold the races, and between 1940 and 1950 racing was suspended (only 4 race days were held again in 1941)
From 1951, racing days could be held again for the first time and the facility came back to life.
In 1963, a yearling auction was held for the first time as part of the Great Week, from which the Baden-Baden Auction Company developed, which has its headquarters next to the racecourse in Iffezheim.
In Iffezheim, the meeting race days have a very special character and so the spring meeting was introduced in 1972, accompanied by a second thoroughbred auction.
The construction of the Bénazet Grandstand in 2004 laid the foundations for further race days, which also featured a combination of gallop races and an auction. The Sales & Racing Festival was born.
However, the international club had overstretched itself financially and had to file for insolvency in 2009.
Baden Racing GmbH was responsible for the gallop races in Iffezheim from 2010 until the end of 2020. However, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the operators of the previous company withdrew and terminated their lease.
A new tender for the historic facility was therefore necessary. The concept from Peter Gaul and his team was convincing; the municipal council, chaired by Mayor Christian Schmid, approved the award on March 15, 2021 by a large majority.
Baden Galopp has thus been the new operator of the wonderful facility in Iffezheim, just outside Baden - Baden, since April 1, 2021. The Great Week at the end of August was the first event under the direction of Baden Galopp and comprised 4 days of racing.
10 race days are planned for 2025. You can find the dates here.
Why gallop racing?
As with other livestock breeds, gallop races are performance tests prescribed by law - with the aim of enabling success-oriented animal breeding. Only those that meet the breeding objective should be bred further. The finishing post on the racecourse provides information on who best meets the breeding objective of the thoroughbred/racehorse. Hence the races.
In addition, galloping has developed into a popular leisure activity for the general public, with spectators having the opportunity to participate directly in the sporting action through betting.
