Thursday 10 December 2020
Gallop sport in great concern
German flagship racetrack threatens to end
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German horse racing fears about the future of its traditional racetrack in Iffezheim in Baden-Württemberg. However, the idea of a joint operating company with the facility in Berlin-Hoppegarten fails.
German horse racing continues to groan under the effects of the Corona crisis, and now the future of the flagship racetrack in Iffezheim near Baden-Baden is completely open. The project of a joint operating company of the two traditional racetracks in Berlin-Hoppegarten and Iffezheim, which is viewed with high hopes, is finally off the table for the coming year. A seamless transition of the existing structures to a new operator constellation is not possible, as the umbrella association Deutscher Galopp announced.
“We now have to rethink and pursue alternatives. Maintaining racing on this wonderful racetrack in the coming year is a great challenge for all of us. It is not easy,” said Association President Michael Vesper and pleaded: “We encourage everyone the future of horse racing is about helping to save the races in Iffezheim. “
Time is running out. The planning for the spring meeting must be pushed forward, as well as for the big week at the end of August / beginning of September. Vesper therefore announced many on-site discussions over the next few days. The clearly formulated goal of Vesper is: “To continue to enable high-quality races here.” This can only succeed “if the forces in the local community and economy join forces locally and in the region and actively participate in it.” One depends “above all on the support of politicians, with whom we are in a good, very helpful dialogue.”
Systemically relevant, but threatened
Baden Racing had given extraordinary notice of termination of the lease for the racetrack with the Iffezheim community in September at the end of the year. The reason given was the “dramatic losses” caused by the Corona crisis. As a result, Baden Racing was no longer able to pay the required rent of 200,000 euros per year.
Since then, they have been looking for a succession plan. Most recently, a joint operating company with the racetrack in Hoppegarten was favored. Gerhard Schöningh, Vice President of Deutscher Galopp and owner of the Hoppegarten racecourse, now came to the conclusion that such a commitment is currently not being made. “We very much regret this cancellation, because we would have liked to have opened a new chapter of racing in Germany with the first joint operating company of two railways,” said a statement from the association.
Now there is great concern. The big week in Iffezheim is considered the flagship of German racing. A total of three meetings per year plus the important auctions are held at the gates of Baden-Baden. “Iffezheim is of great importance for racing as a whole – yes, it is systemically relevant,” said owner association president Manfred Ostermann and demanded: “We must now do everything we can to ensure racing operations for the coming year.”
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