Baden Baden has a beautiful racecourse which any British racing fan would be truly excited to visit. That's why for this piece we're going to tell you all about this beautiful Bavarian city and what to expect during the Grand Festival Week. This year, the festival begins on the 27th of August and runs until the 4th of September, giving you a full week to enjoy both the horse racing and what Baden Baden has to offer. We've covered where you can stay, what you've got to visit whilst you're in Baden Baden and of course, what to expect from the racing festival. Pack your bags, we're going on a horse racing adventure.
Stay On Course
The first part of your holiday that you'll want to organise is somewhere to stay. There are so many hotels in Baden Baden that could make the perfect base for all kinds of travellers. If you just want somewhere cheap and cheerful to lay your head then the Hotel Traube is a good option with rooms for less than £50 per night. Those who want all of the bells and whistles could instead head to Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa which boasts an on-site spa, swimming pool, and restaurant and starts at around £500 per night.
Wherever you fit in between those parameters though, there's one reason why you might end up choosing Brenners above all others — its ties to the racecourse. Brenners boasts its very own private Brenners Lounge, which you'll find in the Club Tower, located on none other than the home stretch. You'll also receive a private transfer to and from the course, as well as champagne on your arrival. During the racing day, you'll be able to bet in your own dedicated area and not only this, you'll be fed and watered too. There's a four-course lunch menu and an afternoon tea. It truly is a luxury way to enjoy the festival and if you've got deep pockets then you won't regret it.
Visit the Famous Kurhaus
As well as being home to the beautiful Baden Baden racetrack, this historic town also has another hidden gem, one of the oldest casinos in the whole of Europe. Whilst Italy and Belgium do manage to pip Baden Baden to the post for the title of the very oldest, the Kurhaus of Baden Baden is a real relic of casino history, being a frequent haunt of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the author of Crime and Punishment. It is still possible to visit the Kurhaus to this day and the inside is still wonderfully opulent complete with chandeliers and baroque wallpaper.
Make sure that you give yourself time one morning to go and experience the grandeur, after all, the racing doesn't start until the afternoon. Plus, if you time it right then you'll have a whole free day to experience the rest of Baden Baden too, during the break from racing.
What to Expect
This week of racing is a similar level of fame to the Grand National meeting, so expect crowds. On your first day of racing, whether you've chosen to stay at Brenners or not, you'll be able to enter the course around an hour and a half before racing starts to familiarise yourself with the layout, place any early bets and get a close look at the horses as they get ready. The big race of day one will be the Price of the Sparkassen Finanzgruppe, a Group 3 race of 2000 metres, giving a prize of €55,000. You can choose the ticket level that you want to pay for, with €15 guaranteeing you standing room only, €19 giving you a dedicated seat in the grandstand and the higher price levels, of which there are many, promising various other extras.
Day two sees the Casino Baden-Baden Golden Whip, a race of 1200 meters with a prize also of €55,000. The largest prize of the day is the Darley-Brag auction race, which holds an enormous prize of €102,500. Following on from this, the third day has three major races, the Renate and Albrecht Woeste Future Race, the Coolmore Stud Baden-Baden Cup and the Price of the Brag annual auction. These races range in prize money from €25,000 to €55,000. A break in proceedings comes next, which lasts three days, the perfect amount of time for you to get to know the rest of the city. Make sure you're back in time for the 3rd of September though, to enjoy the last two days of racing.
