Big racing party in midsummer 2025

At the Gottfried Schultz Midsummer Race Day, the motto at the racecourse is not ‘posh and snobby,’ but race day party! On the longest day of the year, seven exciting horse races will be held starting at 3:30 p.m., with the highlight being the Gottfried Schultz Grand Prix – Diana Trial (L., 2100 m, €25,000). From 7 p.m., the cult Düsseldorf band ‘Porno al Forno’ will get visitors sweating. The race day is once again supported by Gottfried Schultz, the largest contract partner for Volkswagen Group brands in Germany. The Düsseldorf locations are represented at the racecourse with the Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, CUPRA, SKODA, Bentley and Porsche brands.

The sporting highlight is the international Listed race ‘Großer Preis von Gottfried Schultz - Diana Trial’ (€25,000). In recent years, the 2,100-metre race has become one of the most significant preliminary races for the Henkel-Preis der Diana, which also takes place in Düsseldorf on 3 August. Serienholde (2016), Well Timed (2018) and Palmas (2021) all won this race before triumphing in Germany's most important race for fillies. Turf Sumy, competing for Gestüt Auenquelle under Martin Seidl, is definitely among the favourites this year. The stable form of her Mülheim trainer Marcel Weiß has improved noticeably recently. Representing local interests, the Grafenberg stable around Albrecht Woeste will be fielding the talented Laminaria. Sascha Smrczek trains the three-year-old, ridden by Bayarsaikhan Ganbat, at the Düsseldorf racecourse. Another horse to watch is Stall Helena's Meeresbrise, who recently made an impressive exit from the maiden class. Silaway is travelling from France with jockey Fabrice Veron, a contender who should not be underestimated and who will be entering the starting gates in Düsseldorf with an honourable placing from Lyon. Other candidates for the top places are Asteria with Adrie de Vries for the Nizza stable and Raposa with Eduardo Pedroza, competing in Fährhofer colours.

10,000 euros in the four-horse accumulator

The highlight for betting fans is the Cupra Race Formentor, the sixth race of the day at 6.15 p.m. There is a guaranteed payout of €10,000 for those who pick the first four horses in the correct order. Three horses from Düsseldorf stables are competing in this race: Shoko Lady, Darling Jay and Galaxy.

Porno Al Forno © Anne Orthen / Düsseldorfer Galopp

After-race concert with Porno al Forno

Virtuoso musicality, fine voices and delicate arrangements are not to be found in the cult party band from Düsseldorf, Porno al Forno, but instead a great atmosphere and good vibes. These seven guys are proving for the fourth time at the racecourse that they know how to throw a good party.

The performance begins after the last race at 7 p.m. No additional ticket is required; the normal race day ticket is valid. These are available from 2 p.m. in the Düsseldorf Galopp online shop: https://shop.duesseldorf- galopp.de/tickets/mittsommer The box offices are open until 7 p.m., and the online shop, which can also be accessed from smartphones, remains open until the end of the event for last-minute visitors.

A children's area and pony rides round off the colourful programme of events. The Rheinbahn shuttle buses will run until 11 p.m. to the Staufenplatz stop to ensure that everyone can get home safely after the event ends at 10 p.m.

Event schedule

Admission begins at 2 p.m.

1st race 3.30 p.m.

Main race 5 p.m.

Last race 6.45 p.m.

Concert starts at 7 p.m.

Event ends at 10 p.m.

Source:  Düsseldorfer Reiter- und Rennverein von 1844 e.V.