Gambling politician

One of the Chancellor’s less well-known tasks is to attend cultural and sporting events, free of charge, and in doing so to represent the federal government in public. For many years, Schmidt is a welcome honorary guest at the Horn district grounds of the Hamburg racing club, which was established in 1852. Schmidt appreciates the platform he is given and in turn generates increased media attention for the club. According to the well-informed tabloid press, his financial fortunes tend to be limited: at the autumn meeting in 1979, his picks are a mix of right and wrong, while at the German Derby in 1981 the entire computer system goes down due to a technical fault.