What does a fund manager do after he’s sold his company shares at just the right time? In the case of 47-year-old Gerhard Schöningh, he buys a racetrack – having grown up near one and still harboring an affinity for the sport. However, back to the fund manager. You may recall one of the most spectacular scandals in financial history and Nick Leeson who drove the London Barings Bank to ruin.

That’s where Schöningh worked, back then. Together with a colleague, he quickly established his own business with great success, got out of the business in the nick of time and purchased his childhood dream: the ”Hoppegarten“ which, during imperial times through to the Second World War, was the Mecca of German horseracing. The opportunity was favorable as the Union-Club, the former owner, filed for bankruptcy in 2005; Schöningh took over the track in 2008. Since then, the Hoppegarten is the only privately-owned racetrack.

Schöningh isn’t the least bit hasty. He invests around 1 million euros annually, constantly looks for sponsors, and is slowly providing new impetus for the sport offerings. The last racing day of 2009, 4 races yielded a record win: The prize for 1 FC Berlin at the finish VIOLET SHELLY – NOUVELLE AMIE – TUMULT – FREE SKY. For 10 euros the 4-way bet paid out 600 000 euros. On the same racing day, the Preis der Deutschen Einheit was also run, sponsored by the Westminster Unternehmensgruppe. Hoppegarten and Gerhard Schöningh are on the right track. The 2010 racing season begins on April 4 and ends on October 3, once again with the Preis der Deutschen Einheit. A further highlight is sure to be on Pentecost Sunday May 23, with the Diana Trial.