PRESS RELEASE
Spring Meeting from 18-21 May 2023 in Baden-Baden - Iffezheim:
Class attendance, constant betting turnover and a new gallop star at the Spring Meeting 2023
Baden-Baden/Iffezheim, May 22, 2023 (MH) - Last year's Derby hero Sammarco, the WETTSTAR.de - Grand Prix of Baden winner Mendocino and the current Group winner Assistent were considered the top horses, but the stage belonged in the end to the new star galloper Northern Ruler: The stallion trained by Andreas Wöhler in Spexard near Gütersloh provided on Sunday before 12.The stallion was the sporting highlight of the three-day spring meeting under the direction of Baden Galopp at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim.
After the Grand Prix of the Baden Economy (Group II, 70,000 euros, 2,200 m), the four-time German champion jockey was able to beam with the sun, which provided the best racing weather on all days. For Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, the brief return to Germany was more than worthwhile. The Kazakh, who has been working for the French champion trainer André Fabre in Chantilly for a few weeks, was not put off by the high pace set by the outsider Mansour, moved into second position and gained a comfortable advantage early on, which was easily enough to leave the approaching Best of Lips and Mendocino behind. In contrast, Sammarco and Assistant played no role this time. Northern Ruler had already caused a sensation with a Group win in France in 2021, after which he ran only sporadically, but now he seems to be back in full force. Certainly he should be a horse with a great future.
Calif and Fantastic Moon the other group winners
Further sporting highlights were the superior victory of Calif in the 45th Kronimus Badener Meile (Group III, 55,000 Euros, 1,600 m) and the successful title defense of the mare Kolossal, prepared in Iffezheim by Carmen Bocskai, in the Prize of the Baden-Baden Hotel & Catering Industry on Ascension Thursday, which was particularly busy with 12. 900 visitors.900 spectators, and Fantastic Moon's triumphant win in the Japan Racing Association Derby Trial (Group III, 55,000 Euros, 2,000 m) in front of 8,900 spectators on Saturday. The stallion is now one of the top candidates for the IDEE 154th German Derby on July 2 in Hamburg-Horn.
Sales level with previous year
With a total of 33,800 visitors, the Spring Meeting was first-class and even better attended than in 2022. With 1,910,978.74 euros, the previous year's result was equaled in terms of betting turnover. The peak value was Sunday with 721,702.51 euros, with the most pleasing being the 8 percent increase compared to 2022 on Thursday with a betting volume of 640,784.09 euros. The turnover per race reached 68,249.24 euros and thus also remained almost constant. Certainly, quite a few non-starters and some small starting fields in the four-race races prevented a better result.
In the "7 wins!" bet, played for the second time in Iffezheim on Sunday, the turnover of 43,963.59 euros with a guaranteed payout of 77,777 euros was unfortunately once again below expectations and in line with the trend of the last draws. This time, however, no bettor managed to correctly predict all seven winners.
Delozier and Piechulek the meeting champions among jockeys
This time, the victories among the active players were widely spread. Lukas Delozier and Rene Piechulek led the ranking with three goals each. Among the coaches, seven supervisors - Yasmin Almenräder, Bohumil Nedorostek, Michael Figge, Henk Grewe, Toni Potters, Christian von der Recke and Peter Schiergen - managed two goals each. Eckhard Sauren was the most successful owner with two wins. His two-year-old stallion Emir, with his impressive success in the BBAG Badener Jugendpreis, should be a horse with a lot of potential.
A first-class atmosphere prevailed in Iffezheim on all days of the event, both during the 28 races in total, in which race prizes (including breeders' premiums) amounting to around 560,000 euros were distributed, and at the After Race Party on Thursday evening. The many new areas, some of which have been created in recent years, and the varied catering offer were very well received.
Very remarkable was also the result of the BBAG Spring Auction on Friday. The average price increased by 23 percent, while the total turnover amounted to 512,500 euros.
Stephan Buchner, Managing Partner of Baden Galopp: "We are very happy about how our spring meeting went. We have seen absolute top sport, fantastic horses and an excellent attendance. I still have goose bumps now when I think of the atmosphere that prevailed during the races. Of course we were very lucky with the weather conditions, but that is part of it. I thank my great team, our partners and sponsors, and of course all the guests who made these days a unique experience."
After the meeting is before the meeting - and so the focus is now already on the Great Week, which will be the next top event in Iffezheim with five days of events from August 26 to September 3.
Further dates racing events Baden Galopp 2023
Big week:
Saturday, August 26
Sunday, August 27
Wednesday, August 30
Saturday, September 2
Sunday, September 3
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 13
Sunday, October 15
Best regards from the racecourse