Leading competitor in the season-ending race at Grafenberg racing circuit
The city of Düsseldorf is gearing up for the 105th running of the "Großer Preis der Landeshauptstadt," a significant horse race that serves as a racing highlight and season finale. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 1,000 spectators will be allowed to attend the event, which will take place at the Grafenberg racetrack on Sunday.
This Group 3 race is a competitive test for high-class thoroughbreds, attracting top 3-year-olds and older horses competing over middle distances around 2000 meters. The event has seen strong international fields, with past winners connected to major racing stables.
In the 104th running, Best Lightning, ridden by Adrie de Vries, emerged victorious. The race has also seen notable wins by horses such as Nebos (1980), Königsstuhl (1981), and Orofino (1982).
Mayor Thomas Geisel will present the winner with a replica of the Düsseldorf Rheinturm during the awards ceremony. The event is endowed with 55,000 euros.
Spectators can only obtain tickets online via Westticket, and the box office is closed. The TV channel "Sport1" will broadcast the races live from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. For those unable to attend, the races can be watched live on the homepage www.duesseldorf-galopp.de and the YouTube channel of the association www.deutscher-galopp.de.
The Rheinbahn will shuttle ticket holders from the Staufenplatz to the racetrack. The races begin at 12:30 PM, with the first race starting around 1:15 PM.
Klaus Allofs, a board member of DRRV, expressed his gratitude for the support of the state capital in these difficult times. The race has been held on the Grafenberg racetrack since 1918, with exceptions in 1920, 1921, and 1945.
Max Schmidt and Peter Alafi are among the jockeys with multiple wins, having taken the title five and four times respectively. Heinz Jentzsch holds the record for most wins among trainers with eight victories. The race distance was 1,400 meters in 1918, later varied between 2,200 and 2,400 meters, and has been consistently 1,700 meters since 1983.
The "Großer Preis der Landeshauptstadt" remains a key fixture in the German racing calendar, attracting a competitive international lineup and producing winners connected to major racing stables. For those interested in the race's origins or a complete historical winners' list, archival sources or specialized racing databases like GALOPPFOTO.DE might offer more detailed records.
The "Großer Preis der Landeshauptstadt" is a significant horse race that attracts top 3-year-olds and older horses competing over middle distances, making it a key fixture in the German racing calendar. On Sunday at the Grafenberg racetrack, spectators can watch this Group 3 race live on "Sport1" or online via Westticket, with the races starting at 12:30 PM.
