Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf

The Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Düsseldorf over a distance of 1,700 metres (1 mile and 99 yards), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.

History
The event was formerly known as the Grosser Preis von Düsseldorf. The first version was established in 1918. Its date and distance were frequently modified during the early part of its history.

In the post-war years the race was usually held in May or June. For a period it was restricted to horses aged four or older and contested over 2,400 metres.

The Grosser Preis von Düsseldorf was given Group 2 status in 1972. It was shortened to 2,200 metres in 1979. It was switched to April and cut to 1,700 metres in 1983. It was rescheduled for the autumn and opened to three-year-olds in 1985.

The race was downgraded to Group 3 level in 1998. It was renamed the Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf in 2002.

Records
Most successful horse (3 wins):
 * Lombard – 1971, 1972, 1973
 * Peppercorn – 2000, 2001, 2004

Leading jockey (4 wins):
 * Max Schmidt – Kameradschaftler (1938), Osterglaube (1941), Lockfalke (1942), Patrizier (1944)
 * Hein Bollow – Asterios (1951), Jonkheer (1953), Optimus (1958), Kaiseradler (1962)
 * Peter Alafi – Opponent (1966), Königsstuhl (1981), Orofino (1982), Mister Rocks (1983)

Leading trainer (8 wins):
 * Heinz Jentzsch – Pantheon (1964), Lombard (1971, 1972, 1973), Arratos (1974), Whip It Quick (1976), Zampano (1987), Risen Raven (1994)
 * (note: the trainers of some of the early winners are unknown)

Earlier winners

 * 1918: Gisela
 * 1919: Eleganz
 * 1920–21: no race
 * 1922: Siebenschläfer
 * 1923: Leichtsinn
 * 1924: Freizeit
 * 1925: Freigeist
 * 1926: Sonnenblümchen
 * 1927: Nobelmann
 * 1928: Piemont
 * 1929: Linz
 * 1930: Stalheck
 * 1931: Gebt Feuer / Volumnius *
 * 1932: Audi
 * 1933: Volumnius
 * 1934: Palander
 * 1935: Ideolog


 * 1936: Heimfahrt / Perlfischer *
 * 1937: Kameradschaftler
 * 1938: Kameradschaftler
 * 1939: Barsdorf
 * 1940: no race
 * 1941: Osterglaube
 * 1942: Lockfalke
 * 1943: Flying Call
 * 1944: Patrizier
 * 1945: no race
 * 1946: Berggeist
 * 1947: Olymp
 * 1948: Nebelwerfer
 * 1949: Nebelwerfer
 * 1950: Treiber
 * 1951: Asterios
 * 1952: Schütze


 * 1953: Jonkheer
 * 1954: Mangon
 * 1955: Stani
 * 1956: Masetto
 * 1957: Traumgeist
 * 1958: Optimus
 * 1959: Pfalzteufel
 * 1960: Waidmann
 * 1961: Windbruch
 * 1962: Kaiseradler
 * 1963: Windbruch
 * 1964: Pantheon
 * 1965: Mercurius
 * 1966: Opponent
 * 1967: Birgitz
 * 1968: Birgitz
 * 1969: Ballyboy

* The 1931 and 1936 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.