Weidenpescher Park

The idea of bringing gallop racing to Cologne was put forward in 1896 by Mayor Wilhelm von Becker. On 29 April 1897 the Kölner Renn-Verein 1897 e. V. was founded, and the groundbreaking soon followed — racing began on 3 September 1898. When the Müngersdorf sports park was built from 1923 onwards, the Weidenpescher hub gradually lost its prominence.

The two-storey grandstand was designed by architect and racecourse specialist Otto March and has been a listed monument since 1983. The Kölner Rennverein stages horse races throughout the year, including the Preis von Europa — Germany's largest international race — and the Oppenheim-Union-Rennen, founded in 1834 and held in Cologne since 1947, making it Germany's oldest race. The grounds also house the Stall Asterblüte stables, built in 1952.

In September 1969 the track hosted a one-off camel race that drew 18,000 spectators. Billed as the "Camel Cup," it was a promotional event for the cigarette brand of the same name, with camels specially flown in from the stables of Moroccan King Hassan II.

Immediately beside the track stood one of Germany's largest football stadiums of its era, with 16,000 seats. From 1903 to 2002 it was home to VfL Köln 1899, the city's oldest football club; the German championship finals were held here in 1905 and 1910. The stand, built in 1920 in timber and steel, is one of the oldest surviving football stands in the country and has been listed since 3 March 1989. In 2002 it served as a backdrop for the film Das Wunder von Bern; the former pitch has hosted regular flea markets ever since. The listed stand's roof has been deteriorating visibly, and despite public restoration funds available since around 2020/21, the Renn-Verein and the city remain at odds over responsibility and a renovation plan.

Tennis is run by KTC Weidenpescher Park, founded in 1920, whose indoor hall opened in December 1990. Since March 2003 the grounds have been home to the German Jockey School — reportedly the only jockey school in Germany — which trains students in horse management with a focus on race riding.