Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Varenne is known in his home country as “The Captain.” He was initially purchased by French horseman Jean Pierre Dubois as a yearling for 10 million Italian lire and latter, at age 3, sold to Vincenzo Giordano for 180 million lira.

His racing career began in 1998, when he stormed to victories in the Great Stable Prize on May 23, following that up with victories in the Montecatini on August 1, the GP Marches on August 16, the GP Marrangoni at Torino on September 27 and the Italian Derby at Rome on November 10.

His 4-year-old season was no less spectactular as he scored wins begninning in late March at Torino, Milan, Montecatini, Florence, Rome, Taranto, Cesena, Follonica, Naples, Bologna, Monaco, Milan and Paris.

Varenne2

At age 5 he captured the Grand Prix Roder in France, the Grand Prix European Championship, the Grand Prix Encat, the Grandprix Olympiatravet in Sweden, Italy's Lotteria, the Coupe du Monde in France, the UNIRE in Italy, the Guibileo and the Turilli Paris.

In 2001 at age 6, Varenne began winning in mid-January, scoring a victory in the Grand Prix Encat at Paris, follwed up by a victory in the Prix D'Amerique at Pari's Vincenne's Racecourse. he went on the win the Locatelli in Milan, the GP Orlandi in Modena, the Lotteria in Naples, Sweden's Elitlopp, German's Elite Rennen, the Breeders Crown at The Meadolwands in New Jersey, and the Trot Mondial in Canada, before returning to Italy for two final victories of the season--the Winter and Gala Trot Milan in late December.

When he arrived at the Meadowlands in 2001 to compete in the Breeders Crown for older trotters, Varenneh had a huge reputation to live up to and he didn’t let anyone down. Hung wide into the first turn, Varenne took the lead before being passed by Dream Vacation at the half. After retaking again, Plesac made his run at Varenne and driver Giampaolo Minnucci, but the champion rebuffed the challenge and drew off to win in a world record time of 1:51.1.

His victory in the Breeders Crown that year crowned him the USHWA Aged Champion Trotter of the year. He was also the first European horse to have won a Breeders Crown event. he was also the only horse in the history to have gained victories in the same year in all of the world's major trotting races: the Prix d' Amerique-Lotteria di Agnano-Elitloppet-Breeders Crown

As a 7-year-old, Varenne returned to defend his Prix d'Amerique title easily at Vincennes, the won the Locatelli in Milan and the Criterium de Vitesse in Cannes, before shipping to Sweden to take the Olympiatravet. He then won the Lotteria in Italia and captured the Elitlopp once again, the UNIRE World Cup, the Grand Prix St. Michel in Finland, the Abergs Memorial and the Jubileums Pokalen in Sweden. He wrapped up 2002 by scored a victory in the Championate du Monde once again as well.

Varenne retired after his 7-year-old season with 62 career victories, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds from 73 lifetime starts. He was named the Italian Horse of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and the Horse of the year in France in 2001 and 2002. He was also the only horse in history to have won the Prix dAmerique, Lotteria and the Elitloppet in two conseutive years: 2001 and 2002, as well as being a double World Cup winner (2000 & 2002).