Boker Barbers Corner | BUSA Edition 2020

18
BÖKER MANUFAKTUR SOLINGEN
BOKER SCHWARZGOLD - THE LEGEND
We wanted to pay homage to
the extraordinary racing mare,
"Schwarzgold," with this elegant
new straight razor. The Schwarzgold
(Black Gold) 1937 - 1950 features
black Ruthenium coating on a base
of a complete 24-karat gilding.
Schwarzgold was born in 1937 at
the stud farm Schlenderhahn as the
daughter of the stallion "Alchimist"
and the broodmare "Schwarzliesel."
Schwarzgold was an exceptional
horse in every respect.
Contemporary sports lovers
called the English thoroughbred a
"galloping machine," "miracle mare,"
and "super horse." In 1940, she
won the Diana prize with 6 lengths,
and the German Derby in the same
year with a legendary 10 lengths.
The classic Kissaszony race was
named after her the following year.
Despite this superior and hitherto
unknown superiority, it is believed
that Schwarzgold was never pushed
to the limit, meaning that she
actually always galloped short of
her true potential. The reason for
this (and another fascinating fact
that gave rise to the legend) was
the difficult character of the mare.
Her trainer George Arnull prohibited
any use of the otherwise common
bridle during training and during
races. Everything Schwarzgold did,
she did of her own will. Add to that
the fact that Schwarzgold could
only be used on sand since it was
impossible to control her on grass.
The specter of the NS regime
hovered over every victory of
Schwarzgold. Waldemar von
Oppenheim, the owner of the
stud farm Schlenderhahn and
thus the owner of Schwarzgold,
was expropriated shortly after the
victories. This put an end to any
international career Schwarzgold
might have had. As a broodmare,
Schwarzgold gave birth to two
foals. One of the two foals,
"Schwarzblaurot," continued the
Schwarzgold line, which still breeds
winners to this day.