In Hamburg, the city's hidden oasis of lush, immaculate grass flourishes.
Revised Article:
Hamburg's Gallop Track Master: Waldemar Burgart, the Grass Guru
Meet Waldemar Burgart, the man behind the lush, resilient grass at Hamburg's gallop racetrack. With 8.6 hectares of greenery under his care, six mowing robots, and 14 years of service with the Hamburg Racing Club (HRC), Burgart is the linchpin of the racing grounds, the grass whisperer, or as he likes to put it, "the jack of all trades."
When the Derby racing week kicks off in Horn this Sunday (29th of June), Burgart will be wrapping up most of his work. The 39-year-old, often praised for his dedication, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the track's impeccable state.
Derby Migration: The Gallop Derby Moves to the Third Day for the First Time
Complaints regarding the track's condition from horse owners had puzzled the racing club in the past. However, the derby's priority shift to the third day of the racing week signals a strategic move to preserve the track for the main race. In recent years, the HRC has already been hosting more races on the inner track, via an adjustment six to seven meters inward on the days leading up to the derby.
Mowing Daily - Except in Winter
Maintaining a racing track is no cakewalk. It requires a keen eye, extensive experience, and hard work. According to Burgart, "There's no one-size-fits-all recipe. A lot depends on the local soil conditions, wind conditions, and the weather in general." And of course, adequate financial resources. Racing clubs are notoriously strapped for cash, but a quality track is one of their most valuable assets.
Burgart is tasked with maintaining nearly eight football fields' worth of grass, which his six one-meter-wide robots have been mowing daily during growing seasons for the past eight years. They operate tirelessly from spring through autumn, mowing for an hour before refueling for two hours. The grass is kept short to encourage dense growth and is allowed to reach ten to fourteen centimeters in the last few weeks before races.
Mowing is forbidden 48 hours before the first race due to the potential irritation it could cause to sensitive horse legs and the risk of slipping. Post-race, up to 40 "tampers" are deployed to smooth out uneven spots, press down displaced sods, and fill in holes with an earth-sand mixture.
The quality of the ground, determined by the remaining 50 weeks of the year, is another crucial aspect of Burgart's job. Regularly, he punches holes into the grass at intervals of about twelve centimeters at an angle of about 30 degrees, up to 25 centimeters deep. This deep loosening process using the Verti Drain aids in aerating the soil, supplying roots with oxygen, and promoting a nutrient exchange, as Burgart puts it, "To strengthen them." Then, the track is sanded to ensure optimal water permeability.
The Elusive Mole Enigma
For years, moles had wreaked havoc on the turf in Horn, but the buzzing sounds of the mowing robots seem to have shifted them to the inner area of the terrain. According to Burgart, the structure of the ground beneath the grass is crucial to the horses' well-being. "It should be as elastic as possible, not too hard, not too soft, above all consistent. The horses should run like on a carpet. That's what I take care of."
The going stick, used to measure the ground condition at 62 points on the racetrack, determines whether the ground is suitable for racing. A value between 7.6 and 8.6 is considered good. Despite all efforts, it's impossible to please everyone, says Burgart, "In every race, there's only one winner, and the rest are losers. Sometimes, the ground is also to blame."
The Derby Program: Five Race Days, 52 Races, 500 Horses
Five race days, 52 races, and around 500 horses featuring in multiple competitions: The Derby meeting on the Horn racetrack offers high-class gallop racing at affordable entrance fees. A record 1.75 million euros in prize money is up for grabs, with five group and three listed races promising top-class fields.
A classic returns to the program after six years: the popular Seejagd race on July 8th over 3600 meters, with a prize money of 10,000 euros. The course has been carefully tested in recent weeks. In the week before the race, Hamburg diver Frank Bründel will control the seabed, ensuring safety by eliminating any potential risks, such as discarded objects. The racetrack area is a public leisure park outside of Derby weeks.
Sarah von Boetticher's Millinery Miracle
No Derby meeting would be complete without a hat competition: On July 6th, alongside horses, jockeys, trainers, and owners, hats will take center stage. Art manager Sarah von Boetticher (24) heads the competition for the most creative, elegant, daring, and clever headwear. Two years ago, she won the contest and served as a jury member in 2024. "With the hat competition, we also want to engage those with less connection to the gallop sport. Moreover, I hope we can inspire young women," she says.
On June 29th, during the family day, there will be a hat competition for children as well.
Derby Week Schedule
- First Racing Day: Sunday, June 29, 10:30 AM to 5 PM. Family Racing Day featuring ten races and an extensive children's program, highlighted by the Sparkasse Holstein - Hamburger Stuten Cup.
- Second Racing Day: Saturday, July 5, 10:30 AM to 5 PM, with twelve races, featuring the traditional Wettstar.de - Grosser Hansa-Preis.
- Third Racing Day: Sunday, July 6, 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with twelve races, including the 156th German Derby. Following the race, there will be an Arabian race.
- Fourth Racing Day: Monday, July 7, 11:30 AM to 2 PM, with six races.
- Fifth Racing Day: Tuesday, July 8, 12 PM to 2 PM, followed by a longer break, then continuing from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM, spanning twelve races. Highlights include the Großer Preis von Lotto Hamburg and the Seejagdrennen.
Waldemar Burgart, the grass guru of Hamburg's gallop racetrack, will continue his daily mowing routine during the growing seasons, except in winter, as the six one-meter-wide robots under his command tirelessly maintain the short grass required for horse racing. On the other hand, Sarah von Boetticher, the milliner of the Derby, will be busy with the hat competition, showing the spectators the elegance and creativity that horse racing and fashion can share during the Derby week.
