1858
     Edouard Bénazet was the same age as Napoleon III and he was also reported to have had the same look on this face. Following the death of his father Jacques in 1848, Edouard Bénazet became the manager of the Casino Baden-Baden. The town has to be grateful to him as he created the Roulette halls in the Spa building, the theatre, for which Hector Berlioz created “Béatrice et Bénedict” and above all the race track at Iffezheim. He found the ideal place in the village of Iffezheim and spent 300 000 Francs on building his own personal Longchamp. The track has always been as generously planned as it is today. The French Jockey Club helped him in technical matters, as the Union Club in Berlin at that point didn’t really want anything to do with this project, and on the 5th of September 1858 the first race meeting took place at Iffezheim. The filly AMAZONE, owned by Freiherr von Gemmingen, was the first winner of the Preis vom Schloss Favorite. However, it was no great achievement, as she was the only one competing in that race. She was one of three German horses that ran during the inauguration meeting that spanned three days. LA MALADETTA, owned by Monsieur Lupin was the winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden, the high-light of the meeting.
 
 
1872
     1872 The world had changed after the fighting in 1870/71. Wilhelm I was crowned in Versailles and founded the German Reich. In Iffezheim, however, the world seemed to have shrunk. The French never came any more, and meetings took place in 1871 and 1872, but they were little meetings, where only the horses owned by Herzog von Hamilton won, because of no competition. The international races at Baden-Baden were threatened, especially when the Casino, its main economic provider for prize money, was closed in 1872. The 70s in the 18th century are known in Germany as the foundation years, when trade and industry was developed. In Iffezheim, development and boom was far away. First of all, they needed to survive. The person who should give hope to Iffezheim was Fedor Andre, the editor of “Sporn”, a keen amateur rider. In 1872 he put together a holding company, with a capital of 372 000 DM. However, only 335 000 DM were actually available. On this basis he founded the Internationaler Club. Its members were important racing people and people from England and Russia. The foundation of the Internationaler Club is officially recorded on the 26th of November 1872. The original founders were Fuerst Carl Egon zu Fuerstenberg, Landgraf Friedrich von Hessen, Herzog von Hamilton, Fuerst Hugo von Hohenlohe-Oehringen, Fuerst Nicolaus Gagarine, Fuerst Menchikoff, Graf Hugo Henckel von Donnersmarck sen. and Graf Nicolaus Esterhazy. The Internationaler Club has since been faithful to its original use: the organisation and elevation of thoroughbred racing at Iffezheim in the light of international competition.
 
 
1873
     HOCHSTAPLER, owned by Graf Johann Renards, becomes the first winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden.
 
 
1883
     From the 14th of August through to the 8th of September, Iffezheim celebrated its 25th anniversary. Fedor Andre was the man in charge to organise the party. The Prince of Wales, together with many other members of the Royal Family, had come to Baden-Baden and numerous concerts, balls, theatre plays and dinner parties were held in their honour. The Prince of Wales then suggested to have a competition with amateurs and Jockeys in High-jumping. The Jockeys also competed in a 200 meter race. The race meeting itself had been lengthened to another day, so in total there were six days of racing. For the first time since many years, a French runner went down to the start at Iffezheim. The Grosser Preis von Baden, however, was won by the German trained BROCKEN. The trophy was pure gold and the 40 000 DM prize money was the highest in German history. Baden-Baden enjoyed a society meeting of the highest order.
 
 
1898
     Iffezheim celebrated its 40th anniversary and the Internationaler Club its 25th anniversary. Prince Hermann zu Sachsen-Weimar became Guest of Honour of Baden-Baden and the city was celebrating every day. The prize money for the five-day meeting reached unknown heights: 529 584 DM were on offer and for 72 327 DM tickets for the stands were sold. The tote turnover was 676 520 DM, a record!
 
 
1899
     The economic situation of the Club was so good, that in 1899, more than 45 000 DM were invested into a watering system for the track at Iffezheim. To please everyone, a building reserved for ladies to have their afternoon tea was built. The meeting of ‘99 was financially the most successful to date. The tote turnover was 766 510 DM and the race track made a profit of 68 308 DM.
 
 
1901
     The taxation law of 25 % on betting had a devastating influence on the turnover. The racing industry was also in shock when news came that President Prince Hermann zu Sachsen-Weimar had died. An important era of the Club was over. Unfortunately, the success of the French filly SEMENDRIA, who won the Grosser Preis, was only noted by few.
 
 
1905
     The Club demanded a Government subvention for racing in Karlsruhe, but it was refused. The Grand Festival week, thus started in deepest depression. However, help came from the most unexpected corner. His Royal Highness Friedrich I. of Baden visited the race track of Iffezheim and watched the Grosser Preis von Baden. He then invited important members of the town, who had political and economic influence, to dinner at his castle where he managed to convince them to help the race track of Iffezheim to survive. Thanks to his enthusiasm, people streamed to the track and most importantly taxing on betting were reduced from 25 to 16 2/3 %, which increased the turnover by 200 000 DM.
 
 
1908
     The 50th anniversary of the Iffezheim race track was celebrated from the 21st to the 30th of August. Crown Prince Carl-Egon zu Fuerstenberg generously sponsored the event which was very successful. German breeding could also celebrate a huge success when the three-year-old FAUST, a son of FESTA, won the Fuerstenberg-Memorial, then six days later the Prinz-Hermann-zu-Sachsen-Weimar Memorial and two days later the Grosser Preis von Baden for the owners von Weinberg. His total earnings for these three wins were 116 000 DM. His trainer Walker was equally delighted with this success because he was the first to profit from the new premiums for trainers. 2 000 DM was the sum he collected.
 
 
1913
     Prize money at Iffezheim was worth about 600 000 DM and an indicator for the development of the racing industry in the area. Already one year earlier, the main stands, the weighing rooms and the tote offices had been built. A building for the race track keeper, as well as a bridge connecting the parking place with the railway station near the track, projects which cost more than half a million Mark, were telling the story of success. However, no one could have guessed that this meeting was to be the last one for seven years.
 
 
1921
     Only on the 26th of August 1921, under excruciating conditions, was it possible to have a race meeting in Iffezheim. That it was at all possible, has to be attributed to two men, the President Fuerst Hermann von Hatzfeld-Wildenburg and Richard Haniel, a member of the Committee. Richard Haniel had only become interested in thoroughbred racing at the end of the last century and had started his own breeding operation, which even after WWI remained very successful. Richard Haniel invested all his efforts into preparing the race track of Iffezheim for its next meeting. In 1921 his efforts were finally rewarded and four days of racing could take place. The Grosser Preis von Baden was won that year by OSSIAN with Otto Schmidt in the saddle. Otto-Otto, as he was known, was subsequently the first German Jockey to ride a winner in the Grosser Preis von Baden. He was also a Jockey who should become a very famous man in Iffezheim.
 
 
1927
     This was the year, that MAH JONG won the famous “mud derby” on the Moors of Horn. But it was also the year where Iffezheim became centre-stage for his stable companion OLEANDER, who was to become one of the most important racehorses of all times in Germany. OLEANDER, a son of PRUNUS, first scored in the Fuerstenberg-Rennen and then in the Grosser Preis von Baden. The following year, he came back and won again the Grosser Preis von Baden. But that was not enough. In 1929 he came back to win the race again, therefor equalling KINCSEM's winning series. OLEANDER is undoubtedly the high-light of Germany’s breeding operation.
 
 
1933
     For Baden-Baden and the Internationaler Club the year 1933 was to be important in many aspects, as the Casino had finally been re-opened after 60 years. In 1938, the Internationaler Club signed a contract that the Casino and the Spa-administration, founded in 1934, were to hand over part of their profits to the race track of Iffezheim, so that race meetings could actually take place.
 
 
1947
     Richard Haniel and Fuerst von Hatzfeld-Wildenburg, were the two men who made sure that there would be racing again at Iffezheim after WWI. Graf Spreti, President of the Internationaler Club since 1947, and General a. D. Walter Krueger were the other two men, who took it to heart to revive racing after WWII. At the end of the war, the track of Iffezheim was in a relatively good state, but was quickly occupied by the French troops. Already in 1946, the Officers of Spahi founded the “Société Française des Courses en Allemagne” and 1947 the first Officer’s race took place at Iffezheim. 1947 was also the year where the Société and Graf Spreti started negotiating about future race meetings including German races, too. In order to create a program and decide on the technical problems, the Société demanded a middleman. Graf Spreti suggested General Krueger, who had just been released from an American prison and who had been very successful as an amateur rider. The French accepted him despite his military background.
 
 
1949
     On the 15th of October, the Iffezheim track is finally no longer occupated. Shortly afterwards, the Internationaler Club is allowed to use its name again. Graf Spreti and General Manager Krueger, however, fail to raise the necessary subventions to hold a race meeting in 1950. Only in 1951 the Casino and the town agree to help the race track and on the 24th of August the first race meeting over three days takes place again.
 
 
1954
     BAAL is certainly an exceptional thoroughbred. Within one week he wins the Goldene Peitsche, Germany’s most important sprint race, held at Iffezheim for the first time in 1953, and then also imposes himself in the Grosser Preis von Baden over 1 mile and 4 f, double the distance of the sprint.
 
 
1957
     Begin of the Oettingen-Wallerstein era.
 
 
1963
     It is the first year where the yearling sales are held in Baden-Baden during the Grand Festival week. Iffezheim thus receives a new status in the racing industry.
 
 
1967
     Carl-Friedrich Fuerst zu Oettingen-Wallerstein follows his father’s footsteps when he becomes the President of the Internationaler Club.
 
 
1972
     In Iffezheim, the spring meeting covering three days is born.
 
 
1974
     The Grosser Preis von Baden is divided into two divisions, as there are too many runners who want to compete. MARDUK and MEAUTRY are the winners.
 
 
1975
     STAR APPEAL wins group 1 races in Italy, England and France. He wins the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and scores for the second consecutive time in the Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft in Baden-Baden.
 
 
1977
    KÖENIGSSTUHL becomes the first and only German Triple Crown winner. The June meeting over two days is born and one year later it is already extended to three days. Karsten von Werner becomes the third managing director after WWII. Together with Fuerst Oettingen he invests heavily in public areas, which include the Club stands, built in 1976, the garden, paving of the public paths. A new building for technical installations is built, a new entrance area is created, the main stands are renovated after the Grand Festival in 1987 and 1993 the tote receives new housing and the smaller stands receive a new makeover.
 
 
1985
     The Baden-Baden spring meeting is finally installed with a six-day race card. The Grand Festival week, with its six-day race card, is now equally firmly installed in the calendar. In 1983, following the new taxation law on betting, racing in June had been cancelled and the spring meeting was held over five days. After long discussions, the spring meeting finally was extended to six days.
 
 
1989
     After a successful season in 1988, where for the first time the betting turnover reached the 30 Million DM mark, Carl Friedrich Fuerst zu Oettingen-Wallerstein resigns due to health problems and Hartmann Freiherr von Richthofen becomes the new President of the Internationaler Club. Carl Friedrich Fuerst zu Oettingen-Wallerstein died two years later, but the investments of 23 Million DM, which were made to improve the racetrack while he was President, were never forgotten.
 
 
1991
     In Baden-Baden, Lester Piggott makes a huge impact when winning every single one of his races to become the champion of the Grand Festival week.
 
 
1994
     Betting at Baden-Baden exceeds 48,9 Million DM, which is a new record. But it is not only the betting turnover that has increased. Prize money and premiums for breeders and owners have also increased, reaching the 5,88 Million DM mark.
 
 
1995
     Lando, who won the Grosser Preis von Baden in 1993 and 1994 wins the Japan Cup (Michael Roberts, Heinz Jentzsch) and becomes Europe’s richest thoroughbred (total earnings: DM 5 657 828).
 
 
1996
     Karsten von Werner, managing director of the Internationaler Club, retires and Dr. Frank Joyeux becomes his successor.
 
 
1997
     During the spring meeting, on the day of the Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft, the 5 Million DM total turnover mark for betting is reached for the first time. A co-operation is started with the Japan Racing Association and on the 15th of June, the Baden-Baden Cup is held for the first time on the track of Fukushima, about 120 miles north of Tokyo.
 
 
1998
     The Internationaler Club starts a new partnership with the racing club of Merano.
 
 
1999
     TIGER HILL wins for the second consecutive time the Grosser Preis von Baden. The new auction hall, Baden-Baden Auktionsgesellschaft, opens on time for the Grand Festival week.
 
 
2000
     The Mercedes-Benz Grosser Preis von Baden becomes part of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship. The Internationaler Club starts a new partnership with the French racing club of Vichy.
 
 
2002
     Marienbard follows his win at the Grosse Preis with a triumph in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the biggest autumn race in Europe
 
 
2003
    Its Godolphin and Frankie Dettori again: Mamool takes the newly sponsored Grosser Bugatti Preis. Bernhard Prince of Baden takes over as the new President of the Internationaler Club.

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