Torgau

Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.

Outside Germany, the town is best known as the place which commemorates the meeting of US and Soviet forces during the Second World War. This occurred on April 25, 1945, later known as Elbe Day.

Sights

Sights include the historic town centre, restored since the unification, a brewery museum, the monument for the meeting of the Russian and American troops on the Elbe and a Russian military cemetery. The early Renaissance Hartenfels castle dominates the town. The chapel was built in 1544 (designed by Nickel Gromann) and combines late Gothic with early Renaissance elements. It was consecrated by Martin Luther on October 5, 1544. Brown bears are still kept in the moat.

History

The settlement goes back to a Slavonic settlement named Turguo in the shire of Neletici. There was presumably a wooden Slavonic castle located on the site of the present-day Hartenstein castle. In the 10th century it fell under the rule of the Holy Roman Emperors, and a stone castle was built, round which the settlement congregated. A market is attested in 1119. The town was located on the important trade-road between Leipzig and Frankfurt an der Oder that crossed the river Elbe at a ford east of Torgau.

Torgau (horse)

Torgau (foaled 1997) was an Irish-bred, British-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 1999 she won the Group Two Cherry Hinton Stakes and finished second in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes. At the time of her success, her trainer, Giles Bravery had only nine horses in his stable. Torgau was named European Champion Two-year-old Filly of 1999 at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was retired after two unsuccessful runs as a three-year-old.

Background

Torgau was sired by the Middle Park Stakes winner Zieten out of the mare Snoozy Time. Zieten was not a notable success as a stallion although he had an excellent first season and has been described as "a good source of fast two-year-olds". Snoozy Time, a daughter of the Epsom Derby runner-up Cavo Doro, won a minor race and was a half-sister to the successful sprinter Grey Desire (Duke of York Stakes). Apart from Torgau, her most notable performer was Fujiyama Crest, who provided Frankie Dettori with the last of his seven winners on Champions' Day at Ascot in 1996. Torgau is inbred 4x4 to Sir Gaylord (see below).