Since the first few meters are always some of the hardest, we wanted to change as little as possible. So every 2 x 2 hours, first Stefan, then me.

The start in Spa is the traditional Le Mans way. So run across the track, saddle up and off you go. (Running in racing bike shoes ... always a visual highlight!)

Stefan started immediately like the fire department. As a team of two we had to start almost at the back, slalom to La Source (the hairpin at the start and finish), around the curve and past the old boxes down to Eau Rouge at over 60 km / h. Then into the wall, which is up to 16% steep, but cannot be compared in terms of difficulty with the high eight on the Nordschleife due to the swing. Then it goes up the long Kemmel straight. 5-6% incline, bolt straight, if you are unlucky completely in the headwind.

Stefan managed to catch up with the leading group right up to the chicane, including overtaking maneuvers à la Mika Häkkinen against Michael Schumacher and Riccardo Zonta 2000. 480 watts normalized stood there for the round on his Garmin ... without DRS, KERS or other frills! The following downhill corners went in the dry without brakes, but courage was required in the wet. You had to pull the brake twice and the wind also played a role here.

In large races (e.g. Derby) the starting positions are drawn.

A horse that has to run in the second row, next to the leading horse inside, is in the "death lane".

This is the name given to the betting principle carried out on the racetracks. Here all bets (separated according to the respective bet types) come together in one pot, the statutory deductions (financing of the racing clubs, taxes, etc.) are made and the rest is divided among the winners. A personal bet win is therefore always dependent on how many other bettors have also correctly placed this bet. The term “totalizator” is also used to describe the display board on which you can see the respective eventual victory odds of the horses before the race and the odds for each type of bet after the race.

The horses do not pull a sulky behind them, but the riders sit in the saddle on the horse. Otherwise, the same conditions apply as for races with sulky.

There are professional and amateur trainers. Both have a license from the umbrella association (HVT). The trainers also drive the horses they have trained in most races. The trainer receives 10% of the race prices of the horses he has trained.

Heinz Wewering is the most successful harness racing driver in the world with over 16,500 victories. He was the professional driver's champion in Germany for 29 years in a row, so he always wore the gold helmet.

If the finish line is very close, the finish judge will have a finish photo taken in order to be able to determine the exact finish. If no difference can be seen at the finish line, it is called a "dead race".

Circuit races are usually advertised separately according to age group and are offered throughout the year. There are limited trials and open main runs, which are designed like breeding races. The best horses of a year are determined here.

This cash prize is awarded to the breeder of a horse that has achieved a cash rank in the race. The breeder's premium is normally 10% of the prize money, in circuit and Breeders Crown races it is higher.

The best horses of a year compete against each other in breeding races. The most important breeding race in Germany is the German Trotter Derby.