The question of what is relevant news and what is not is as old as journalism itself. As a rule, it is not enough that something is happening somewhere for it to be published; it also has to be of particular interest. At least in the world beyond Tiktok and Instagram. The situation is different if there is anything somewhere not happens, it’s usually not worth reporting. But there are exceptions: no debates in 1860, that would probably be one of them; no injuries at FC Bayern; no dissent in the traffic lights. The criterion of surprise applies here, because something expected fails to materialize. So here’s the headline, maybe it’s even exclusive: No argument in MunichBelt!
The situation at the Munich Racing Club (MRV), which runs the racecourse in Riem, is calm. So unusually calm that Secretary General Sascha Multerer himself made this headline the topic when looking ahead to the new season. This traditionally begins with a Group 3 race day on May 1st. A few days earlier, the general meeting had taken place at the MRV, and it was so unspectacular that those present had already jokingly complained that they had previously been entertained in a more exciting way for their contributions.
For outsiders and newcomers who don’t immediately understand all of this: In the past, such evenings have usually been very heated, with mutual accusations, camp fights, lawyers, reports, and people arguing in changing lineups about property deals, red numbers and loans. Which is why Multerer doesn’t want to complain about the new boredom: “I prefer it this way,” he assures.
The current harmony under the aegis of President Michael Motschmann can also be explained by the fact that the previous racing season brought in a surplus of 35,000 euros. It is the second year in a row that did not end with frightening deficits, but rather with proof that it is fundamentally possible to make seasonal operations cost-effective, which should also be the goal in the new year: with nine racing days, including a group -3 and two Group 1 races, and prize money of 955,000 euros.
That all sounds almost too positive, because the club is far from making money. Its liabilities amount to eight million euros, of which 5.4 million were invested in a new employee apartment and 2.6 million still result from old loans from members. There have been no new liabilities recently and the old ones have been reduced somewhat, but the club still urgently needs sources of income.
The association is planning a photovoltaic system on part of the site
Traditionally, this topic brings up the 40-hectare training area, which, like the racetrack itself, will be surrounded by a new district in the future. In the past it was supposed to be sold, then the club wanted to build it themselves in order to generate reliable income through rent. Since the Munich city council declared the area to be a green space to be preserved as part of urban development, the association has been planning a photovoltaic system on part of the site instead. Multerer explains that no other plans are being pursued at the moment, but the necessary approvals are not progressing “nearly as quickly as I would like.” For the club, as the managing director once estimated, it is about an increase in liquidity “of half a million euros a year or more”.
On May Day it’s about completely different things: a topping-out ceremony, an honor and the cantering, i.e. sport.
The topping out ceremony affects the club grandstand, which was destroyed by fire in February 2022. The building has been almost completely gutted, the third floor has been removed, walls have been torn down and moved, and a pitched roof has now been put on. Multerer hopes the grandstand could be finished by the end of the year.
The honor goes to the stallion Fantastic Moon. The Derby winner, trained by Sarah Steinberg for the Liberty Racing ownership group, was voted galloper of the year a little over a month ago. He is scheduled to run at the Prix Ganay in Paris on Sunday and then be presented to the Munich audience at home. He is only the second Munich horse to be awarded this title in the public election, which has been held since 1957, after Night Magic, who won it in 2009. There should be a bit of applause.
The main race on May 1st is considered the most important derby test of the year and is accordingly well attended. Of the ten horses registered for Riem so far, five are among the bookmakers’ top favorites for the German Derby on July 7th, including Wintertraum, the best two-year-old from last year. Given the name, it’s actually a shame that early summer returned so shortly before the race – it was actually still snowing until the middle of the week. Like the final race of the previous year, the gallop would have taken place in the snow, which would have been a novelty in the recent past. But the fact that no snow falls on May 1st is really not news.