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. The race was moved to Hoppegarten in 2018 and renamed Silbernes Pferd.
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.
The race was extended to 3,000 metres in 2018.
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Harris – 1977, 1979 Twist King – 1989, 1990 Lordano - 2023, 2025 Vif Monsieur - 2014, 2015
Leading jockey (4 wins): Andrasch Starke - Devil Picker Peek (1997), Elle Shadow (2010), Nikkei (2018), Lordano (2023)
Leading trainer (6 wins): Peter Schiergen – Catella (1999), Imperioso (2000), Zöllner (2001), Soldier Hollow (2004), Elle Shadow (2010), Nikkei (2018) Andreas Wohler - Sugunas (1992), Street Poker (2002), King's Hall (2011), Seismos (2012), Ladykiller (2019) Silence Please (2022)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 1967 On Dit 3 Harro Remmert Sven von Mitzlaff 2:37.60 1968 Zachäus 7 Joan Pall Andreas Hecker 2:35.80 1969 Gin 6 Johannes Starosta Arthur-Paul Schlaefke 2:39.40 1970 Elviro 5 Peter Alafi Sven von Mitzlaff 2:39.70 1971 Selekta 6 Manfred Kosman Dr A. Stocks 2:35.10 1972 Furka 6 Raimund Prinzinger R. Zachmeier 2:36.80 1973 Sarto 5 Fritz Drechsler Heinz Jentzsch 2:38.00 1974 Star Appeal 4 Manfred Kosman Anton Pohlkötter 2:00.50 1975 Record Run 4 Brian Taylor Gavin Pritchard-Gordon 2:04.00 1976 Red Regent 4 Pat Eddery Peter Walwyn 2:04.80 1977 Harris 5 Bruce Raymond Oskar Langner 2:02.80 1978 Ziethen 4 Paul Cook Theo Grieper 2:08.10 1979 Harris 7 Bruce Raymond Uwe Ostmann 2:04.70 1980 Mokka 5 Otto Gervai Charly Seiffert 2:05.10 1981 no race 1982 Ti Amo 4 Bruce Raymond Franz-Felix Schreiner 2:02.00 1983 Hill's Pageant 4 Joe Mercer Peter Walwyn 2:03.70 1984 Hot Touch 4 Steve Cauthen Geoff Wragg 2:08.20 1985 Diu Star 5 Lutz Mäder Theo Grieper 2:04.60 1986 Grauer Wicht 5 Bernd Selle Hartmut Steguweit 2:02.00 1987 Nuas 3 Terence Kelleher Theo Grieper 2:05.00 1988 Highland Chieftain 5 Willie Carson John Dunlop 2:05.60 1989 Twist King 4 Dragan Ilic Peter Lautner 2:05.60 1990 Twist King 5 Dragan Ilic Peter Lautner 2:04.31 1991 Sir Felix 5 Michael Roberts Mario Hofer 2:05.14 1992 Sugunas 4 Andreas Boschert Andreas Wöhler 2:05.40 1993 Iron Fighter 4 Ronald Hillis Horst Steinmetz 2:05.84 1994 Latmos 4 Terence Hellier Peter Rau 2:06.36 1995 Solon 3 Peter Schiergen Heinz Jentzsch 2:06.32 1996 Dankeston 3 Michael Roberts Michael Bell 2:04.84 1997 Devil River Peek 5 Andrasch Starke Bruno Schütz 2:10.53 1998 Aboard 3 Stanley Chin Andreas Schütz 2:05.36 1999 Catella 3 Andreas Suborics Peter Schiergen 2:05.71 2000 Imperioso 4 Terence Hellier Peter Schiergen 2:11.06 2001 Zöllner 3 Jimmy Quinn Peter Schiergen 2:09.30 2002 Street Poker 4 Andreas Boschert Andreas Wöhler 2:04.12 2003 Picotee 6 Jimmy Quinn Dr Andreas Bolte 2:07.16 2004 Soldier Hollow 4 Andreas Suborics Peter Schiergen 2:10.16 2005 Tarlac 4 Terence Hellier Andreas Schütz 2:03.69 2006 Wiesenpfad 3 Johan Victoire Waldemar Hickst 2:22.69 2007 Fair Breeze 4 Andreas Helfenbein Mario Hofer 2:17.41 2008 Lady Deauville 3 Hayley Turner Paul Blockley 2:12.30 2009 Zafisio 3 Graham Gibbons Roger Curtis 2:19.65 2010 Elle Shadow 3 Andrasch Starke Peter Schiergen 2:18.39 2011 King's Hall 3 Eduardo Pedroza Andreas Wöhler 2:11.26 2012 Seismos 4 Andrea Atzeni Andreas Wöhler 2:14.57 2013 Adriana 5 Lennart Hammer-Hansen M Rulec 2:20.80 2014 Vif Monsieur 4 Koen Clijmans S Smrczek 2:13.14 2015 Vif Monsieur 5 Koen Clijmans S Smrczek 2:12.69 2016 Amazona 4 Andreas Helfenbein Jean-Pierre Carvalho 2:03.79 2017 Veneto 4 Alexander Pietsch Andreas Suborics 2:17.082018Nikkei3Andrasch StarkePeter Schiergen3:15.502019Ladykiller3Bauyrzhan MurzabayevAndreas Wohler3:19.372021Aff Un Zo3Maxim PecheurMarkus Klug3:10.322022Silence Please5Jozef BojkoAndreas Wohler3:16.402023Lordano4Andrasch StarkeMarcel Weiss3:30.442024Flatten The Curve5Thore Hammer-HansenHank Grewe3:19.902025Lordano6Rene PiechulekMarcel Weiss3:21.56 The 2008 running took place at Hanover.The 2010 edition was held at Dortmund.
See also List of German flat horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1967 – this race is included under its original title, Concentra-Pokal.
References Racing Post / siegerlisten.com: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , galopp-sieger.de – Frankfurt Cup. galopp-sieger.de – Hessen-Pokal. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Hessen-Pokal (2012). pedigreequery.com – Hessen-Pokal – Frankfurt.