Hessen-Pokal

The Hessen-Pokal (Hesse Cup) is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Frankfurt over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November.

The race was moved to Krefeld and renamed Niederrhein-Pokal (Lower Rhine Cup) in 2014.

History
The event was established in 1967, and it was originally called the Concentra-Pokal. It used to be held in July, and was initially contested over 2,550 metres. It was cut to 2,500 metres in 1971.

The race was given Group 3 status in 1973. It was shortened to 2,000 metres in 1974. It was renamed after Hesse, the German state where Frankfurt is located, in 1979.

The Hessen-Pokal was promoted to Group 2 level in 1987. It was relegated back to Group 3 in 1989. For a period it was known as the Frankfurt-Pokal.

The race was extended to 2,050 metres in 1999, and restored to 2,000 metres in 2001. It was switched to November in 2006.

Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
 * Harris – 1977, 1979
 * Twist King – 1989, 1990

Leading jockey (3 wins):
 * Bruce Raymond – Harris (1977, 1979), Ti Amo (1982)
 * Terence Hellier – Latmos (1994), Imperioso (2000), Tarlac (2005)

Leading trainer (5 wins):
 * Peter Schiergen – Catella (1999), Imperioso (2000), Zöllner (2001), Soldier Hollow (2004), Elle Shadow (2010)

Winners
The 2008 running took place at Hanover. The 2010 edition was held at Dortmund.