Press release
Image: Viking; www.marcruehl.com / Use of the image is free of charge in connection with reporting on Baden Galopp
Vikings and Iffezheim—they go together perfectly at the Casino Baden-Baden Silberne Peitsche!
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, June 7, 2026 (MH) – The Baden-Baden racecourse and Wikinger – it's a perfect match. Almost three years ago, the colt won the Ferdinand Leisten Memorial, Germany's highest-paying auction race, here. On the final Sunday of the Spring Meeting, the five-year-old, now trained by Henk Grewe in Cologne for the Helber family's Cometica AG, secured the Casino Baden-Baden Silver Whip at odds of 6.2:1.
Fifth goal for Thore Hammer-Hansen
This Listed race, with a purse of 30,000 euros and a distance of over 1,200 meters, an important test for the Casino Baden-Baden Golden Whip at the Grossen Woche, developed into an enormously exciting match in which Wikinger (fifth meeting win for jockey Thore Hammer-Hansen) developed the greatest speed.
“He seems to like Baden-Baden,” said Hammer-Hansen. “We had an ideal race. Wikinger tackled beautifully, and I was able to keep him hidden for a long time. He is a very consistent horse.”
Coach Henk Grewe added: “I didn’t think he’d win on the fast track, because he’s even better on soft ground. But Wikinger has a huge heart. He could now start in Hamburg.”
War Bride briefly led the field before being overtaken. "It looked fantastic, but she couldn't be hidden for that long," explained assistant trainer "Kiki" Trybuhl. Bacarda also performed strongly, finishing third. "That was quite respectable for her first attempt in this class," commented trainer Andreas Wöhler. Schützenzauber became riderless on the straight, but thankfully, jockey Rene Piechulek was quickly back on his feet. However, he had to withdraw from further rides due to bruising.
Sina Schmidt launches new racing series
Sina Schmidt secured the first race of the new racing series “The Golden Horse Amazons Series” on the outsider Manon des Bois.
Abacus heading towards the derby.
Exactly one month before the German Derby, two hopefuls for the Blue Ribbon, Abacus and Worrington, started in the opening 2,400-meter race and ultimately battled it out for the win. In the end, Abacus (2.7:1), running for Liberty Racing Platinum in 2024, prevailed, comfortably fending off the favored Worrington under jockey Rene Piechulek. "He remains eligible to start in the Derby, as well as in an auction race in Hamburg. We hope he'll make another leap in form. He recently had minor surgery, so he had to rest for a while. We'll take our time deciding what to do next," said manager Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten.
Celine Johne shines among the young riders
Riders up to the age of 30 are eligible to participate in the Mehl-Mülhens Young Talent Award. In one race of this competition (Handicap IV, 1,600 m), Celine Johne distinguished herself on Sven Straßmeier's Superjet (6.8:1), narrowly beating Najem Shalghoda.
Romy van der Meulen again and again
The stable of trainer Romy van der Meulen from the Netherlands is in outstanding form, and the joy was particularly great after the victory of Cuban Lynx (T. Hammer-Hansen, 6.7:1) in a 1,600-meter handicap III, as he also carries his trainer's colors. Zega Top, Thalia, and See Ares completed the superfecta, which yielded €1,286.60.
Romy van der Meulen also saddled the winner in the 2,000-meter handicap III: Thekingofmyheart (12.9:1), ridden by Enzo Crublet, led from start to finish. Go Flying, Lynario, Garvey, and Next Eagle completed the QUINTETT bet, offered for the first time in Iffezheim, which again went unclaimed.
But that wasn't all, as Miami Heat (7.7:1) also joined Romy van der Meulen's winning streak. His third victory of the day marked the fifth consecutive triumph for the dramatically improved gelding, who repeatedly accelerated from start to finish against Vinnare and Tulpar in the 1,200-meter handicap II.
“Iffezheimerin” Baltic Sea sun for the third time in a row
Ostseesonne (4.1:1), prepared by Gordan Batistic in Iffezheim, has undergone a sensational development, winning her third consecutive race in a 15,000 Euro race with Sibylle Vogt in the saddle.
Another great sales result
Betting turnover across Sunday's ten races totaled €874,009.54. Trackside turnover alone climbed by approximately 13 percent. Overall, there was a daily increase of over 20 percent compared to 2025.
Big Week is the next highlight
The Great Week 2026 will be the next highlight in Iffezheim. Five race days await racing enthusiasts from August 29th to September 6th.
Tickets for all sections are available on the website www.badengalopp.de.
Additional dates for the 2026 Baden Galopp horse racing events:
Big week:
Saturday, August 29
Sunday, August 30
Tuesday, September 1
Saturday, September 5
Sunday, September 6
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 16
Sunday, October 18
Andre Lott
Press contact
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
www.badengalopp.de
——————————————
Follow us on:
——————————————
Company headquarters: Iffezheim
Mannheim Local Court: HRA 708774
Represented by Baden Galopp Verwaltungs GmbH
Company headquarters: Iffezheim
Mannheim Local Court: HRB 3821
Managing Director: Stephan Buchner
