Erlenhof Stud Farm

Erlenhof Stud Farm (German: Gestüt Erlenhof) is a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm and racing stable located in Dornholzhausen, a district of Bad Homburg vor der Höhe in Hesse, Germany. Founded in 1901 by the district administrator Ernst Ritter von Marx under the name Fohlenweide, the 65-hectare estate was renamed Erlenhof in 1922 after it was acquired by the industrialist Moritz James Oppenheimer, who established a successful Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation there. Under Oppenheimer, with the support of hippologists Gustav Rau and Richard Sternberg, the stud became a winning racing stable; its most famous horse of that era was Graf Isolani, winner of the 1929 German Derby and multiple other major races. After Oppenheimer's bankruptcy in 1933, the stud was purchased by the steel industrialist Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza. During the following years Erlenhof became one of the most successful and well-known studs in Germany, winning the German Derby four times with Athanasius (1934), Nereide (1936), Ticino (1942) and Nordlicht (1944). In 1938 it ranked eighth among German studs by prize money. After Heinrich Thyssen's death, his daughter Margit von Batthyány bought the estate at auction in 1953 and ran it successfully in the 1950s together with Ferdi Leisten. From 1977 until his death in 1991, the Ingelheim pharmaceutical producer Hubertus Liebrecht leased the stud and renamed it Erlengrund. In 1994 the Günther Rothenberger family took over the estate, which was managed until 1997 by Dr. Jens Freiherr von Lepel, and restored the traditional name Gestüt Erlenhof. Members of the Rothenberger family, including Sven, Gonnelien and Sönke Rothenberger, are known riders associated with Erlenhof. The stud has bred numerous classic winners, including Graf Isolani (1929), Athanasius (1934), Nereide (1936), Ticino (1942), Neckar (1951), Orsini (1957), Marduk (1974) and Anzillero (winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin 2001). Today it operates as Zucht und Rennstall GmbH, continuing both breeding and racing activities. The farm has suffered several serious fires over its history, most recently on 1 March 2019, when a technical defect caused a fire that killed five horses and caused damage in the millions.

Erlenhof Stud Farm was founded in 1901 by the then district administrator Ernst Ritter von Marx under the name Fohlenweide. The 65-hectare estate is located in Dornholzhausen, a district of Bad Homburg vor der Höhe. In 1922 the industrialist Moritz James Oppenheimer acquired the stud, renamed it Erlenhof and began Thoroughbred breeding there. Oppenheimer was an enthusiastic supporter of equestrian sport: he was president of the sport cartels in Bad Pyrmont, Bad Harzburg and Bad Homburg, a board member of the Reichsverband zur Zucht und Prüfung deutschen Warmblutes, co-founder of the Bavarian Riding School in Munich, and from 1929 to 1936 honorary consul of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Frankfurt. With the support of the well-known hippologists Gustav Rau and Richard Sternberg, the estate became a winning racing stable. The most successful horse from this period was Graf Isolani, a two-time winner of the Hansa-Preis, the Blaues Band, the Union, the German St. Leger and above all the German Derby in 1929. In 1933 Oppenheimer had to file for bankruptcy, and the stud, with 60 horses and an estimated value of 200,000 Reichsmark, was bought by the steel industrialist Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza. Thyssen paid a total of 350,000 RM: 160,000 RM for Oppenheimer's racing stable in Hoppegarten and 190,000 RM for the Dornholzhausen estate. Oppenheimer was dissatisfied with the sale proceeds; he claimed he had received an offer of 180,000 RM for Graf Isolani alone. Thyssen acquired the estate through his Dutch subsidiary Naamlooze Vennootschap Hollandsch Trustkantoor, which allowed him to pay the purchase price in blocked marks (Sperrmark). In the following years Erlenhof Stud became one of the most successful and famous studs in Germany and won a large number of races. The German Derby alone was won four times by horses from Erlenhof: Athanasius (1934), Nereide (1936), Ticino (1942) and Nordlicht (1944). In 1938 the stud ranked eighth among the most successful German studs by prize money, having won 103,435 RM with 19 victories. With Nereide's victory in the Braun Band von Deutschland, the "wonder mare" and the stud moved into the center of Nazi propaganda surrounding equestrian sport. After Heinrich Thyssen's death, his son Heini Thyssen wanted to sell the stud. His sister, Margit von Batthyány, bought it at auction in 1953 and ran the racehorse breeding operation successfully in the 1950s together with Ferdi Leisten. In 1971 a fire destroyed a barn, and in 1974 the main stable burned, with 35 horses narrowly rescued. From 1977 until his death in 1991, the Ingelheim pharmaceutical producer Hubertus Liebrecht leased the stud and renamed it Erlengrund. In 1988 a fire devastated the estate and 13 mares died; this was the most severe of three fires on the farm during Hubertus Liebrecht's time. A fire had already occurred in the night of 1 April 1980, caused according to the court by a vagrant who negligently started it with a burning cigarette. In 1994 the Günther Rothenberger family took over the estate, which was managed until 1997 under the direction of Dr. Jens Freiherr von Lepel. The purchase price was not officially disclosed; newspapers reported a price "under 10 million DM". The stud then regained its traditional name Gestüt Erlenhof. Known riders from the Rothenberger family at Erlenhof include Sven Rothenberger, Gonnelien Rothenberger and Sönke Rothenberger. On 1 March 2019 another severe fire broke out due to a technical defect, causing the death of five horses and damage in the millions. Horses bred at Erlenhof Stud include Graf Isolani (1926–1945, Derby winner 1929), Athanasius (born 1931, Derby winner 1934), Nereide (1933–1943, Derby winner 1936), Ticino (1939–1958, Derby winner 1942; a monument to Ticino stands at Erlenhof), Neckar (1948–1974, Derby winner 1951), Orsini (1954–1975, Derby winner 1957), Marduk (1971–1984, Derby winner 1974) and Anzillero (1997–2014, winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin 2001). In the television series Geld.Macht.Liebe, scenes of the horse breeding of the banker's daughter were filmed at Erlenhof Stud.

• 2019

  Severe fire on 1 March caused by a technical defect; five horses die and damage in the millions.

• 2001

  Anzillero wins the Grosser Preis von Berlin.

• 1997

  Management under Dr. Jens Freiherr von Lepel ends.

• 1994

  Günther Rothenberger family takes over; traditional name Gestüt Erlenhof restored.

• 1988

  A fire devastates the estate; 13 mares die.

• 1980

  Fire in the night of 1 April, caused negligently by a vagrant.

• 1977

  Hubertus Liebrecht leases the stud and renames it Erlengrund.

• 1974

  The main stable burns; 35 horses narrowly rescued.

• 1971

  A fire destroys a barn.

• 1953

  Margit von Batthyány buys the stud at auction after Heinrich Thyssen's death.

• 1944

  Nordlicht wins the German Derby.

• 1942

  Ticino wins the German Derby.

• 1938

  Ranked 8th among German studs by prize money with 19 wins and 103,435 RM.

• 1936

  Nereide wins the German Derby.

• 1934

  Athanasius wins the German Derby.

• 1933

  Oppenheimer goes bankrupt; stud sold to Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza.

• 1929

  Graf Isolani wins the German Derby.

• 1922

  Acquired by Moritz James Oppenheimer and renamed Erlenhof; Thoroughbred breeding begins.

• 1901

  Founded by Ernst Ritter von Marx under the name Fohlenweide.

Traditional German Thoroughbred stud farm and racing stable with a history of classic winners.

Product categories. Thoroughbred breeding · Racing stable services · Young horse rearing · Stud services

1. 1Gestüt Erlenhof – Aus Tradition in die Zukunftgestuet-erlenhof.de
2. 2Erlenhof Stud Farmwikidata.org
3. 3Gestüt Erlenhofde.wikipedia.org