Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for June 2007

Trond Smedshammer

Trond Smedshammer
Birthplace: Gfovik, Norway
Birthdate: March 22, 1967
Residence: Allentown, New Jersey

Trond Smedshammer

Trond Smedshammer came to the United States in 1987 after a mandatory year in the Norwegian army and was virtually penniless when he took a job in the barn of fellow Norwegian Per Henriksen. He stayed for six months before heading back to Norway, where he continued
to train harness horses.

Smedshammer returned to the U.S. a year later to work for Lindy Farms and was part of their team when they won back-to-back Hambletonians in 1990 with Harmonious and 1989 with Probe [deadheated with Park Avenue Joe].

In 1992, Smedshammer decided to open a stable of his own at White Birch Farm in Allentown, New Jersey, and he has since proven himself as one of the sport’s top trotting trainers.

                                      Smedshammer with Windsong's Legacy

Smedshammer was named Trainer of the Year in 2004 for the feat of campaigning three
champions in a season: Trotter of the Year Windsong’s Legacy, Three-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year Housethatruthbuilt and Trotting Mare of the Year Stroke Play. Windsong’s Legacy earned $1.7 million, a single- season record for a trotter, in 2004. His victories in the
Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot and Kentucky Futurity made him the first Trotting Triple Crown winner since Super Bowl in 1972.

Smedshammer’s other millionaires include Strong Yankee, Blur, HP Paque and Sand Vic, who dominated the older trotting division in 2006. Sand Vic captured every major trotting stake at the Meadowlands, including the Breeders Crown and Nat Ray. A trio of 3-year-old colt trotters [Mr Pine Chip, Blue Mac Lad and Here Comes Herbie] and a team of top fillies [Queen Serene and Emantee] also helped propel his stable to $4 million in earnings for the season.

Smedshammer co-owns many of his trainees and drives them as well, racing under the name American Viking Racing Stable.

In 2006 Smedshammer scored victories in these major events:
• $800,000 Breeders Crown Trot Sand Vic
• $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial Mr Pine Chip
• $300,000 Nat Ray Sand Vic
• $200,000 Titan Cup Sand Vic
• $175,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial Sand Vic
• $175,000 NJSS Championship Blue Mac Lad
• $51,250 Charles Singer Memorial Likeaboutoutofhell

Trond Smedshammer Career Training Statistics Through June 1, 2007
Year   Starts   Wins  2nds  3rds Earnings      UDRS
2007        52      11       2       9      $ 244,793        0.291
2006      315      79      48      34      $ 4,180,700      0.371
2005      336      56      51      42      $ 3,516,722      0.293
2004      326      81      41      51      $ 5,311,104      0.370
2003      263      61      38      31      $ 2,673,111      0.351
2002      180      41      21      21      $ 1,111,571      0.331
2001      245      34      27      24      $ 604,593         0.233
2000      177      30      20      22      $ 802,258        0.274
1999      183      26      26      30      $ 652,841        0.276
1998      189      34      27      26      $ 691,914        0.305
1997      127      33      23      15      $ 702,390         0.400
1996      151      23      23      19      $ 405,664        0.279
1995      172      15      16      30      $ 256,418        0.197
1994      184      24      29      24      $ 420,946         0.261
1993      128      20      18      20      $ 250,770        0.286
1992        21      6        3        3      $ 30,467           0.413
Total               574                       $21,856,262

Trond Smedshammer Career Driving Statistics Through June 1, 2007
Year   Starts  Wins 2nds  3rds    Earnings    UDRS
2007      26       3         1        5       $81,367      0.201
2006      172      41      24      17      $1,431,279   0.349
2005      153      27      14      15      $789,798      0.260
2004      143      26      20      21      $2,726,291   0.308
2003      141      31      19      16      $908,730      0.333
2002      131      33      18      14      $925,651      0.364
2001      179      26      18      19      $441,765      0.236
2000      113      22      12      15      $462,238      0.298
1999      138      19      19      25      $491,470      0.275
1998      127      23      13      17      $476,314      0.283
1997      117      32      20      13      $675,357      0.406
1996      119      21      18      18      $350,555      0.311
1995      147      12      13      26      $228,185      0.190
1994      150      21      23      19      $279,914      0.267
1993      113      17      14      17      $201,047      0.269
1992      65      15      10     6      $116,416      0.347
1991      70      14      16      11      $83,804      0.379
1990      25        1        5      3       $14,655      0.191
1989       6         0       3      0          $2,200     0.278
Total               384                     $10,687,036