The Cologne-Weidenpesch Racecourse (''Galopprennbahn Köln-Weidenpesch'') is a

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

track at Weidenpescher Park in Nippes, Cologne. As the only race course in Germany hosting more than one European pattern Group 1 race, Weidenpesch is one of the most prominent tracks in the country.Article from Whatsonwhen
Cologne-Weidenpesch is also one of Germany's oldest

horse-racing track A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also ...

s, having been established as a race course in 1897. The larger of the two

grandstand A grandstand is a normally permanent structure for seating spectators. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap a ...

s was designed as a cast iron and timber framing structure in 1898 and substantially renovated in 2004. Until recently, the sportsgrounds were also home to Cologne's oldest football club, the

VfL Köln 99 VfL Köln was a Football in Germany, German association football club from the city of Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was formed out of the pre-war merger of Kölner Club für Rasenspiele and Kölner Sport-Club 1899, through which it l ...

Races

The Weidenpesch Racecourse hosts several annual conditions races: * Group 1: ** Preis von Europa and **

Rheinland-Pokal The Grosser Preis von Bayern is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Munich Racecourse over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year ...

* Group 2: ** Gerling-Preis, **

Grosse Europa-Meile The Grosse Europa-Meile is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Munich in September. History The event was originally sta ...

, ** Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen and **

Oppenheim-Union-Rennen The Union-Rennen is a Group 2 flat horse race in Germany open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Cologne over a distance of 2,200 metres (about 1 mile and 3 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June. History The ev ...

* Group 3: **

Schwarzgold-Rennen The Schwarzgold-Rennen is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Cologne in May. History The event is named after Schwarzgold, ...

, **

Silberne Peitsche The Silberne Peitsche is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1,300 metres (about 6½ furlongs) at Munich in late April or early May. History The event w ...

and **

Preis des Winterfavoriten The Preis des Winterfavoriten is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Cologne over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October. History The even ...

The Gerling-Preis, originally established as "Preis von Birlinghoven" in 1921, and from 1934 onwards, named and sponsored by

Robert Gerling The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

, is the oldest sponsored race prize in the country. Other major races include the Preis von Europa and the Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen. The Cologne racing association (''Kölner Rennverein'') organizes horse races throughout the entire year.

References

External links

official site: Kölner Rennverein 1897 e.V.
Cologne Sports venues in Cologne Tourist attractions in Cologne Nippes, Cologne {{NorthRhineWestphalia-struct-stub

Races

See also

References

External links