DEU, 132. Grosser Preis von Berlin, / 14.08.2022, Hoppegarten , Berlin, DEU, 132. Grosser Preis von Berlin, im Bild Zieleinlauf, 1.Platz-James Doyle / Rebels Romance IRE, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev / Nerik IRE Foto: Juergen Engler / nordphoto GmbH *** DEU, 132 Grand Prix of Berlin, 14 08 2022, Hoppegarten , Berlin, DEU, 132 Grand Prix of Berlin, in picture finish, 1 place James Doyle Rebels Romance IRE , Bauyrzhan Murzabayev Nerik IRE Foto Juergen Engler nordphoto GmbH JuergenxEngler nph00076

In Brandenburg, Berliners often seek relaxation on hot summer days by swimming in the lakes or walking in the forest. Some, however, are drawn out into the countryside because of the excitement: just behind the eastern city limits – S 5 towards Strausberg Nord – is the Hoppegarten racecourse. There was something to celebrate there at the weekend: 200 years of the German Gallop.

The festivities started on Friday at the Hotel Adlon and continued on Saturday and Sunday with a wide variety of races on the racetrack. The highlight: the 132nd Grand Prix of Berlin or – as worldly connoisseurs say – the Berlin Grand Prix. The main sponsor was a real estate company.

10,000 spectators were interested in the big anniversary. Already on the way to the racetrack, a feeling of anticipation spread. Loose groups, consisting of families with small children or beer-drinking millennials, moved through the small forest from the S-Bahn station to the site of the spectacle.

At the cash register in Hoppegarten you have to make a decision: Do you want to see a lot of the race and have a seat or do you want to stroll across the grounds and make do with standing room during the race? Prices range from 12 to 50 euros.

Ticket in hand opens onto a spacious, gravelled square in the shadow of a tall brick building. Beer benches and tables are set up between old trees and wooden betting booths, with food and drink trolleys in between. The whole thing is reminiscent of a fair or a folk festival.

This also applies to the children’s program: a very small Ferris wheel, pony rides and souvenir stands. Except for the hat-wearing visitors, nothing at this point is reminiscent of sophisticated places like Baden-Baden, Ascot or the Hippodrome de Longchamp in Paris.

[Every morning from 6 a.m. editor-in-chief Lorenz Maroldt and his team report on Berlin’s trials and tribulations in the Tagesspiegel newsletter Checkpoint. Register now for free: checkpoint.tagesspiegel.de]

Suddenly, however, people jump up, people are in a hurry and pour into or around the brick building. Behind it, the large, green racetrack lined with forests opens up – and only here does one realize that the brick building is the large grandstand, in which the boxes are located for the visitors, who have dug a little deeper into their pockets. All others gather on the so-called saddle places, i.e. a meadow in front of the racetrack.

A moderator heats up the atmosphere. Betting friends take turns looking at their betting slips and the big screens behind the racetrack. The music and the excited chatter of the guests end with the starting gun, now all you can hear is the presenter. The horses and their jockeys can only be seen from the standing area on the screen. After a few minutes they turn onto the home straight, past the spectators who are now cheering, shouting and waving.

And then it’s over and it’s time to while away the wait for the next race by cashing in your prize or trying your luck again. The lucky winners or the sad losers can see their betting objects up close, on an area next to the large beer garden. admire. Here the horses are led past the spectators or warmed up, at 32 degrees in the shade.

[If you want all the latest news live on your phone, we recommend our app, which you can download here for Apple and Android devices.]

A select minority has a better view of what’s happening and doesn’t have to move. The exclusive racing club is located in a detached smaller building behind the stables, directly in front of the start and finish line. Only VIPs or club members can enter here. On Sunday, among others, Berlin’s governing mayor Franziska Giffey, this time patron of the Grand Prix, and her predecessor Klaus Wowereit.

The illustrious company sits in the shade of parasols or spacious boxes at laid tables, drinks champagne or Aperol Spritz and has all kinds of fine food served.

However, the Governing Mayoress has to work again in between and honor the Grand Prix winner James Doyle. His gelding, Rebel’s Romance, is owned by a sheik: the ruler of Dubai.