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Award ceremony with national anthem for the winner of the 104th Grand Prix of the state capital: Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller (4th from left) handed over the Rhine Tower to the owners; Photos: Zanin
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Before the main race in the parade ring (from left): Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, Meike Folkerts, Kerstin Bethke-Jaenicke and DRRV President Dr. Alexander Bethke-Jaenicke
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The start of the 104th Grand Prix in the state capital over 1700 meters
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Best Lightning on the home straight shortly before the triumph in the Grand Prix of the state capital; Photo: Rühl
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Entry of the dispersed field at the 104th Grand Prix in the state capital; Photos: Zanin
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Celebrations at the finish about Best Lightning’s underdog victory
Big gallop sport at the 104th Grand Prix in the state capital: It was the Sunday (September 29, 2024) of big surprises at the Düsseldorf season finale at the Grafenberg racecourse in front of around 7,000 spectators. In the main event over 1700 meters, which was worth 55,000 euros, there was actually a lot to be said for last year’s English winner Brave Emperor. The real “conqueror”, however, was the six-year-old gelding Best Lightning, an outsider who sensationally won the 104th Grand Prix.
The “reward” in addition to the prize money: Jockey Adrie de Vries and the owners of Best Lightning received the coveted replica of the Rhine Tower from the hands of Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller and other honorary awards. There were representatives of the executive committee of the Düsseldorf Riding and Racing Club (DRRV) around DRRV President Dr. Alexander Bethke-Jaenicke. There was also a lot of applause for the surprise winner from the tea house, where representatives of the city society watched the event.
The key to success in the 104th Grand Prix of the state capital Düsseldorf was a moment of genius from the Dutch class jockey Adrie de Vries. The Flying Dutchman, as he is often called in professional and fan circles, only needed a few seconds before he was able to slip through a small gap on the inside. The rest was routine for the 55-year-old jockey, who let the horse run home the shortest way. Stud Schlenderhans Aguirre also ran a strong race, coming second under Bayarsaikhan Ganbat. See Hector, with young French jockey Corentin Berge in the saddle, finished in third place.
The success story continues: pearl necklace for Nina Baltromei
Nina Baltromei, designated German amateur racing champion, is also the winner after three competitions for the traditional “Pearl Necklace Prize of the Brauksiepe Goldsmith Manufactory”. In the final race, the Düsseldorf Economic Development Prize, the 26-year-old came out on top in the saddle of the five-year-old gelding Mr Speaker. Nina Baltromei is the successor to Rebecca Danz from Oberhausen, who won the racing series last held in Neuss in 2019.
The “Price of the Pearl Necklace” has been a competition to promote female racing riders since 1961 and was held at the horse racing track in Neuss until 2019. After its closure, the prestigious racing series lay idle. In 2024, the racing series was revived in Düsseldorf and presented to a large audience at the Grafenberg racetrack.
