Woman Nina Baltromei victorious in historic galop derby, securing the title as the first female champion
In a historic moment for German horse racing, Nina Baltromei became the first female jockey to win the Deutsches Derby (German Derby) on July 6, 2025, in Hamburg[1][2][4]. This groundbreaking victory came 46 years after Monika Blasczyk became the first woman to ride in the race.
Riding the horse Hochkoenig, Baltromei tactically settled towards the back of the 17-horse field before making a late, decisive surge in the final stretch of the 12-furlong race. Despite a competitive field, she timed her challenge perfectly to snatch victory by a short head from the British-trained horse Convergent[1][2][5].
The victory was also a triumph for the burgeoning female trainer Yasmin Almenrader, who trains Hochkoenig. Her stable has been emerging strongly, highlighted earlier in the season by wins in other German Classics[1][3]. Almenrader expressed her emotions, saying she is overwhelmed by Hochkoenig and Nina Baltromei.
The Cloverleaf stable, owned by Hans Bierkaemper from Dortmund and Bernd Robert Gossens from Issum, bought Hochkoenig for a low five-figure amount last year. The victory marks Nina Baltromei's 50th career victory.
The crowd at Hamburg greeted Baltromei's victory with great enthusiasm, celebrating the historic moment and recognizing her as only the second woman to ride a German Classic winner after Sibylle Vogt’s breakthrough in the German 1,000 Guineas in 2021[1]. The audience cheered "Nina, Nina" for minutes after her win.
Baltromei, a champion German amateur jockey in 2024 and an experienced Listed winner, was riding in the Classic for the first time. She had previously stepped away from professional sports following the death of her father Werner Baltromei in 2012. This win was dedicated to his memory.
The German Derby, worth 650,000 euros, took place in Hamburg-Horn, Germany. Unfortunately, an incident occurred 600 meters before the finish involving The Sheriff, a horse that traveled from France, who suffered a severe injury and was taken to a clinic. Despite this unfortunate event, the focus remained on Baltromei's historic achievement.
Baltromei's victory in the German Derby symbolizes progress and greater visibility for women in the sport at the highest level[1][2][4][5]. It is a *historic first female win* that is sure to inspire future generations of female jockeys in Germany and beyond.
[1] ntv.de, fzo/sid/dpa [2] BBC News [3] The Guardian [4] The New York Times [5] The Washington Post
- After her historic win at the German Derby, Nina Baltromei's success in horse-racing continues to shine, showing that women are making significant strides in the sport.
- Baltromei's tactical racing strategy and competitive spirit in the Deutsches Derby highlights the growing presence of female jockeys in sports like horse-racing.
