An evening in autumn at the harness racing track in Daglfing. It is race day. One of only two racing days per month. Harness racing has seen better days. Gone are the days when the grandstands were full and thousands of spectators watched the races. Today it looks bleak. Only a few dozen spectators - probably less than 50 - stand at the edge of the racecourse.
The grounds are spacious. The 1000-metre track is well lit by several floodlights. The sky is spectacular. Large clouds stand on the horizon, broken by holes in the clouds through which the last rays of sunlight poke. The atmosphere is one of doom. In front of the racecourse are three large grandstand complexes. Two are made of steel and concrete, one of wood. Two are empty. Only the middle one is still in use.
The betting hall is located in the building. It is also generously dimensioned. There were once numerous betting counters here. Today, four are still in operation. However, only one of them is occupied. Shortly before the race starts, there are no bettors to be seen.
Through empty corridors and staircases you reach the restaurant area. On the way, you come across relics of times long past. Local telephones - glassed-in booths that once housed pay phones. Or the more modern version of an open shell. The telephone has long since disappeared, but a few telephone books still exist - 1998 edition.
Some spectators warm up in the restaurant area. From the tables you have a direct view of the racecourse through the large windows. In the past, the food was served at the table, an older experienced racing fan tells me. Today it's self-service. There is the usual canteen food: curry sausage and fries, bockwurst and goulash soup.
Outside, preparations are underway. The track is being prepared. A large tractor makes its lonely rounds. In tow is a net that makes the tracks from the run-in disappear.
Then it finally gets underway. A race with a car start. The teams are led through the bend behind the car, which has a wing-like fence attached to the back, and slowly brought up to racing speed. On the home straight, the start car accelerates, folds in the start gate and leaves the racecourse. The trotters now have a clear run and sort themselves out.
The races are usually advertised with a few thousand EURO. Only rarely is the prize money in the lower five-digit EURO range. A lot of effort for little return.
At the finish line, the horses' dynamics unfold. The beating of the hooves on the track becomes louder. You feel a slight tremor when the horses pass by.
There is an award ceremony after each race. Horse and driver present themselves in a box in front of the main grandstand.
Afterwards, the track is prepared again for the next race. Until the race day ends. Dusk has long since given way to dark night. After the last race, the lights go out on the racecourse. Soon they will be completely extinguished in Daglfing. The end of the racecourse is already sealed. The site has been sold and the racecourse is giving way to a housing estate. The last race will be run by 2025 at the latest - the twilight of harness racing has long since begun.
