Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Nat Ray Part of World Cup Trot 2006

June 5, 2006

The $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational at the Meadowlands will become the first North American race to be included in the European-based 2006 World Cup Trot. The premier international series for older trotters consists of four preliminary qualifying events to be held at racetracks in Italy, Sweden, the United States and France and a $300,000 [Euro] final to take place on August 30 at Kazan Racetrack in Russia. The top three finishers in the Nat Ray, held Saturday, August 5 at the Meadowlands, will receive invitations into the final at Kazan.

The other three World Cup Trot qualifying races are the Gran Premio UNIRE on June 23 at Milan San Siro in Italy, the Hugo Abergs Memorial on July 25 at Jagersro in Sweden and the Grand Prix du Conseil des Alpes Maritimes on August 10 at Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.

The nine European horses with the highest point score [based on order of finish in preliminary events], plus two Russian horses selected by Kazan and the top three finishers in the Nat Ray, will be invited to the World Cup Trot Final at Kazan.

Su Mac Lad Series winner Self Professed and Arthur J. Cutler Memorial champion Sand Vic have been guaranteed starting spots in the Nat Ray, the richest of the World Cup Trot qualifying events. The winners of the $240,000 (estimated) Titan Cup on July 1 and the $800,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot and $250,000 Mare Trot on July 29 will also receive
invitations into the Nat Ray. Jag de Bellouet, winner of Sweden's famed Elitlopp and one of the world's top trotters, has also received invitations to the Nat Ray and Breeders Crown.