Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

    Skijoring in St. Moritz, Switzerland              Pacing in County Cork, Ireland

Harness Racing is a popular sport, found everywhere in the world, not only in North America. From Europe to the Down Under countries of Australia and New Zealand, harness racing fans can witness both diagonally-gaited and laterally-gaited equines racing over all types of surfaces and at various distances. Here at the Odds On Racing International News page, we'll keep you up to date on the latest in global harness happenings.

2008 ELITLOPP NOW HISTORY
May 25, 2008
The Italian-foaled but French-trained Exploit Caf, driven by Jean Michel Bazire, won the Elitlopp after a thrilling finish in 1:52.2.f, in which he wore down his stablemate, Oiseau de Feux, driven by Björn Goop, who had led all the way.

Enough Talk proved he could trot alongside Europe’s best as he finished a strong third in the Elitlopp on Sunday.

Trained by Peter Kleinhans, Enough Talk was the United States invitee to Europe’s most prestigious trotting event held at Solvalla Racecourse in Stockholm. Luc Ouellette steered Enough Talk to a second-place finish in his elimination and worked out a similar pocket trip in the final. They found room late in the stretch and got up to finish third behind the winner Exploit Caf and his stablemate Oiseau Feux. The mile race was clocked in 1:52.1.

Enough Talk’s return to his barn at the Meadowlands could be delayed. The trotter’s strong performance earned him an invitation to compete in the Copenhagen Cup on June 6 in Denmark. Kleinhans is strongly considering the opportunity and will make a decision in the coming days.

Enough Talk has won four of 11 races in 2008. He set a 1:52.2 world record at Dover earlier this year and won a leg of the Su Mac Lad Series at the Meadowlands. Kleinhans purchased the 5-year-old gelding for $250,000 from Matthew Butcher Jr. on March 2, 2008.

IRISH EYES SMILING ON HARNESS RACING ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY
March 17, 2008

Monticello Raceway is not alone in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. The St. Paddy Pace might be North American harness racing’s best known tip of the cap to the Irish holiday, but across the Atlantic Ocean – on the southern coast of Ireland itself – fans spend their St. Patrick’s Day delighting in Standardbred saddle races.

Harness racing enthusiasts on the Emerald Isle say the sport is one of Ireland’s best-kept secret; hopefully, not for long.

“Though it remains a minority sport, harness racing is regularly featured in local and national newspapers and the general public is steadily gaining awareness of it,” said Chris O’Sullivan, who maintains the Irish harness racing Web site Irishtrotting.com. “The progression onto the national stage looks promising, with a new raceway proposed for development and due to open in 2010. Discussions are also underway with regards to the forming of a Grand Circuit, which will hopefully see racing this summer around different parts of the country.”

On St. Patrick’s Day, saddle racing is conducted at Ownahincha, in County Cork, on the southern tip of Ireland. The races are open to pacers and trotters, although generally only pacers participate.

“You are literally 100 feet from the ocean,” O’Sullivan said. “Normally at this time of year the sea is roaring in the background. It’s a spectacular venue.”

Ireland has one facility, The Central Track, located in the village of Leap in Cork, built specifically for harness racing (other tracks in Dublin and Northern Ireland closed). However, the most popular form of harness racing, both under saddle and in a sulky, continues to be on the turf. There are some 10 turf tracks in West Cork and racing rotates between the venues from April through September. During the winter, there also is road racing under saddle.

Saddle races are arranged in grades, with progression via a points/money system from novice to Grade E, Grade D, Grade C, Grade B, to the top level, Grade A.

“Some of the most popular meetings are held on national holidays such as St. Stephen’s/Boxing Day (December 26), New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Sunday,” O’Sullivan said. “Racing on those days is a tradition which has continued for many years now.”

All harness races, whether on a track or on the turf, are contested around an oval in a counter-clockwise direction, just as the races in North America.

“At nearly all the venues, there are rolling hills in the background, but the grass venues are always fairly even terrain,” O’Sullivan said. “Most of the venues are quite a picture.”

2008 European Grand Circuit Begins
The 2008 European Grand Circuit season opened at the Vincennes Racetrack in Paris, France, with the $500,000 Prix de France contested at one & 5/16 miles on Sunday, February 3, 2008.

A field of 13 trotters lined up behind the starting gate and the recent runner-up in the Prix d'Amerique, Opal Viking, took the lead but in the lane was overcome by the seven-year-old Italian horse Exploit Caf who won by three lengths. The time was 1:53.4, which was the second fastest in race history.

Exploit Caf has now firmly established himself as one of the top horses in Europe. Last spring he won the $750,000 Gran Premio della Lotteria in Naples, Italy. For his driver Jean-Michel Bazire this was his second win in the event--he had won the race in 1999 with Moni Maker.

2008 Prix d'Amerique
The Paris-Vincennes track has witnessed some spectacular races and legendary wins and the Prix d’Amérique is its premier race.

Considered the top racecourse in France, the Paris-Vincennes track has also drawn international acclaim. This mega circuit is an all-year stamping ground for gamblers, driers, trainers, jockeys and horse lovers. The finest horses (Bellino II, Idéal du Gazeau, Ourasi etc.) have raced the soft, muddy, firm or slippery tracks of the Paris-Vincennes to try and win the world’s most prestigious trotting championship, the Prix d’Amérique.

Created in 1920 to honour the U.S. involvement in World War I, this annual race gives spectators and punters an emotional rollercoaster ride with plenty of thrills and chills and reactions ranging from jubilation to disappointment. Last year’s event was an all-out combat with a French hat trick. Offshore Dream, driven by his trainer Pierre Levesque, replaced the 2006 winner Gigant Neo in top place.

     --------2007 Elitlopp Now History------

May 27, 2007 at Sovalla
Mr Muscleman, driven by Ron Pierce, finished second in the Elitlopp final at Solvalla. In a very exciting finish he was beaten by the French trotter L’Amiral Mauzun, driven by Jean Michel Bazire, who just like in the elimination enjoyed a pocket trip.

L’Amiral Mauzun just managed to get his head in front to secure the purse for the winner of $365,000. Both horses were timed in 1:52.3f. L’Amiral Mauzun is an 8-year-old gelding, who though raised and bred in France, has a lot of American blood in his veins.

From post position six, Ron Pierce went for the lead, but inside L’Amiral Mauzun tried to follow. However, Mr Muscleman succeeded after the first quarter, but soon he got Going Kronos, driven by Lutfi Kolgjini, on the outside. Going around the last bend Going Kronos became rough gaited and went off stride; that left racing room for L’Amiral Mauzun and going down the stretch the two geldings battled it out.

For the final, Noel Daley, the trainer of Mr Muscleman, took off the Murphy blinds and hind shoes; that was just the second time ever that Mr Muscleman raced without hind shoes.

To view all of the previous Elitlopp's on video, go to: http://www.elitloppet./

European Grand Circuit Underway
News from Italy & France--March 4, 2007
Was It A Dream made his first start of the year against older horses at the half-mile oval in Bologna, Italy, and despite a good trip the former Canadian O'Brien Award winner finished sixth in a mile rate of 2:00.4h behind the winner Faruz in 1:59h on Sunday afternoon, March 4. Was It A Dream was driven by Enrico Bellei and he is trained by Holder Ehlert whose stable includes two other North American trotters in Algiers Hall and Boardwalk Hall, who both are expected to join Was It A Dream on the European circuit later this spring.

The three-year-old colt Iper Flying became the season's fastest sophomore trotter anywhere in the world when he won the $20,000 Premio Sardegna in 1:57.3f by eight lengths at the San Siro, Italy on March 4. The son of Mr Vic goes back maternally to the top American mare Desert Wind and is undefeated in three starts this year.

In France, the $300,000 Prix de Selection was raced on the last official day of the 2007 winter meeting at the Vincennes Racetrack. The French classic had only attracted eight horses as the conditions heavily favoured the top mare Pearl Queen, who has won 12 of her last 14 races. She took the lead early and won handily in a mile rate of 1:56.3 for trainer and driver Thierry Duvaldestin. The four-year-old daughter of Carpe Diem (Workaholic) now has career earnings of $1.5 million racing only in France.

Jardy Wins $225,000 Prix de Paris
Veteran trotter Jardy, driven by Jean Michel Bazire, won the $225,000 Prix de Paris over 2.5 miles Sunday, February 18th at Paris' Vincennes Racecourse. The 10-year-old is a grandson of American-bred sire Workaholic . For the third time in a row Jardy won the prestigious trotting event, timed in 2.00 (mile rate), followed by Notre Haufort, driven by Christian Bigeon.

Jardy has now lifetime earnings of $2.8 million. Over the years he has won several big stake races. In fact, his win in the Prix de Paris was his sixth victory in a Grade 1-race. Jardy has proved himself as a top trotter under saddle too, as he won both the Prix de Vincennes and the Prix de President de la Republique as a sophomore. Jardy is owned by the Wildenstein Stable,and also lends himself for stud duties for $6,000.

Only three trotters have won this race three times in row. The great mare Gelinotte was the first to do it in 1955-56-57; Bellino II did it in 1.975-76-77 and Vourasie in 1993-94-95.

The Big One in France...
The European Grand Circuit season began Sunday, February 11, 2007 with the $450,000 Prix de France in Paris raced at the Hippodrome de Vincennes.

Two nine-year-old trotters made it a two horse race as Kesaco Phedo took a large lead into the stretch for trainer/ driver Jean-Michel Bazire but they couldn't hold off a late challange from Kool du Caux driven by Franck Nivard who crossed the finish line in a new stakes and track record of 1:52.1z mile rate for the mile and five sixteenths contest. Third was the Swedish entry Third was the Swedish trotter Opal Viking for Jorma Kontio.

That is the fastest time ever for the distance but the French way of measuring their tracks preclude it from becoming an official world record.

Two weeks ago, Kool du Caux was second in the $1.25 million Prix d'Amerique and he now has career earnings of $1.5 million.

And in Italia...
In Italy Sunday, the $100,000 Gran Premio E.N.C.A.T. was raced for Free For All trotters and in a tight, three horse finish, the seven-year-old son of Toss Out, Dominatore d´Orio won in a mile rate of 1:57.3f for the mile and five sixteenths distance. Second was Frisky Bieffe ahead of Express Road. This was the first win at the highest level for Dominatore d´Orio, who now has 31 career wins and earnings of more than $425,000.

2007 Prix D'Amerique won by Offshore Dream
Europe's Biggest Trotting Event Draws 18 Diagonally-Gaited Specialists
January 28, 2007
FrenchTrottersVincenes

                         Vincennes Race Course, Jan 28, 2007

The $1.5 Million Prix d’Amerique, one of Europe’s premier trotting events, was won by Offshore Dream, in a new race record of 1:56.4 (mile rate) on Sunday afternoon. The five-year-old, the youngest trotter in the field, was driven by his trainer Pierre Levesque in the 86th edition of the event. The winner’s share of the approximately $665,000 purse gives Offshore Dream lifetime earnings of about $1,248,000.

It is quite unusual for a horse as young as Offshore Dream to win the Prix d’Amerique. Only 12 five year olds have captured the race, the last was Verdict Gede in 1992.

The French champion Jag de Bellouet seemed to be off his game, went off stride twice, and was disqualified and placed last.

Pierre Levesque, the trainer-driver of the winner, hails from one of the greatest trotting families in France. This was his first win in the Prix d’Amerique.

$1.5 Million Prix d'Amerique
PP Horse                 Driver
1 Offshore Dream      P. Levesque
5 Kool Du Caux        F. Nivard
13 Kazire De Guez    J.M. Bazire
16 Kesaco Phedo       M Lenoir
17 Jardy                   Ch Bigeon

To view a great Video of the event, click on the link below:
http://www.prix-amerique.com/en/la_course/index.html

Paris-Vincennes racecourse is surrounded by 47 hectares of green, just a few minutes from Paris, in the heart of Vincennes forest, France. With its sweeping bends, selective inclines and beautiful straights, the 1,975m racetrack is a champions' favorite...allowing them to run the most spectacular races.

Founded at the height of the roaring twenties in 1921, the Prix d'Amérique conquered the crowds with the triple victory of Uranie, the Flying Chestnut. Since then, winners have been fixed in folklore with their names spanning the years: Gélinotte, Roquépine, Une de Mai, Bellino II, Ourasi, Général du Pommeau.
Every year, French, Swedish, American, Belgian or Italian champions wrestle for victory in one of Europe's most prestigious trotting events.

2006 International News

Asteros Passes
October 10, 2006
Read about this Down Under Pacer...

The 2006 World Cup Now History
September 2, 2006
#1 at Milan: Gran Premio U.N.I.R.E. - June 23th, Purse: 200,200€: 2,100 meters
Winner: Kool du Caux (Jos Verbeeck-driver)
#2 at Jägersro: Hugo Åbergs Memorial - July 25th, Purse: 189,000€: 1,609 meters (1 mile)
Winner: Citation 1:54.1 (Erik Adielsson)
#3 at The Meadowlands: Nat Ray Invitational Trot - Aug. 5th, Purse:
$300,000 US: one mile Winner: Sand Vic 1:51.3 (Brian Sears)
#4 at Cagnes-sur-Mer: GP du Conseil des Alpes Maritimes - Aug. 10th, Purse: 190,000€: 2,100 meters    Winner: Mara Bourbon (Erik Adielsson)
#5 at Kazan Racetrack Tatspirtprom: Final of the World Cup Trot - Aug. 30th, Purse: 300,000€: 2,400 meter Winner: Lady d’Auvrecy 1:57.3 (Sebastian Baude)
Check out the World Trot site at:   www.worldcuptrot.com

Wewering Scores Victory Number 16,000
August 22, 2006
German driver Heinz Wewering, 56--the sport’s winningest driver--passed another milestone on August 22, 2006 at the Tor di Valle racetrack, located on the outskirts of Rome, where he recorded victory number 16,000. Wewering has been Germany's best for 29 years in a row, and he recently accepted an offer to train in Rome for Italian owner Scuderia Mondial Sport. Wewering won his first race on September 13, 1965, and he has won the European Driving Championship four times and the World Driving Championship on two occasions.

World Cup Trot Action at The Big M this Summer
July 8, 2006
The $300,000 Nat Ray on August 5 at the Meadowlands, an invitational trot for the best free for all trotters in training, is among the featured events on a new website,
www.worldcuptrot.com

This is the first year the Nat Ray has been included in the World Cup Trot which is now in its 12th year. The series is comprised of five races in five different countries – Italy, Sweden, France, the United States and Russia.

“We are hopeful our participation in this year's World Cup Trot will stimulate continued international interest in the Nat Ray, and that it might encourage some of our top North American trotting stars to take on the world's best in the final at Kazan, Russia,” said Meadowlands Vice President for Racing Operations Chris McErlean.

When the World Cup Trot debuted in 1995, it was comprised of the Elite-Rennen at Gelsenkirchen Racetrack in Germany, the Hugo Abergs Memorial at Jägersro and the Jubileumspokalen at Solvalla, both in Sweden.

In 2006 the series was re-structured. The races at Milan [Gran Premio U.N.I.R.E.], Jägersro [Hugo Abergs Memorial] and Cagnes-sur-Mer [Prix du Conseil Minicipale des Alpes Maritimes] are now eliminations for a 300,000 Euro final at the Kazan track in Russia on August 30.

Nine horses gaining the most points in those three races, as well as three horses qualifying at the Meadowlands in the Nat Ray Trot, and two horse from Russia will advance to the final.
The opening round event, the Gran Premio U.N.I.R.E at San Siro in Milan, Italy on June 23 was won by the seven-year-old Kool du Caux, driven by Jos Verbeeck and trained by Fabrice Souloy. The next stop is Sweden for the Hugo Abergs Memorial on July 25.

$425,000 Gran Premio Nazionale
July 7, 2006
Read about the fillies in Italy...

Jag de Bellouet Wins Elitlopp in Sweden
May 29, 2006
Read about the trotter....

Prix d'Amerique Winner Disqualified
March 9, 2006
Read about Jag de Bellouet

Jag de Bellouet Takes The Prix de France
February 12, 2006
Read about this great trotter

Jag de Bellouet Wins Prix d'Amerique for the Second Straight Year
January 29, 2006
Read about this outstanding trotter...

Jag de Bellouet sets the stage for Prix d'Amerique
January 22, 2006
Read about this winner...

Upsetter Prevails in Prix de Belgique
January 15, 2006
Read about the winner...

Prix d'Amerique '06 Just Weeks Away
January 12, 2006
Read about France's top trotting event...

2005 International News

Sweden's Top Reinsman Retires
Read about Stig...

Big Days In Paris
Winners at Vincennes....

Former Gurfein Trainee Wins Italian Stake
Read about Yankee Valor's big win....

Orsi Mangelli Final now History
Read all about this year's winners of both the colt and the filly divisions by clicking here...

The Primo Orsi Mangelli Fields
As one of Italy's most prestigious events, held annually in Milan, The Grand Primo Orsi Mangelli features heat racing, with two dashes for colts and a $290,000 Final. There is also a similar event for fillies. Both races will be held November 1, 2005.
Click here to read about one of Italy's biggest events...

Harness Racing, Italian Style
The $900,000 Italian Derby was contested on Sunday afternoon, October 9 at the Tor di Valle racetrack on the outskirts of Southern Rome. It is the richest test for sophomore trotters found in the land of pasta. Longshot Fairbank GI was the winner for driver Giuseppe Maisto, who finished in front of the hard-trying Fleche, while For Kelly Park was third. German trainer Holger Ehlert trained the winner, who stopped the clock in 1:57.3 (mile rate) for the mile and 5/16 test. That time was good enough for a new track record. The previous mark of 1:59 was set in 1998 by the mighty Varenne.
Watch the 78th edition of the Italian Derby here.... 78° Derby of the Trot

Jeanbat du Vivier To Race in Nat Ray
Jeanbat du Vivier, a $1 million-earner and leading stakes performer in Europe, will be the arriving at the Meadowlands on Tuesday to compete in the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational on Saturday, August 6. Jeanbat du Vivier will be the first French-bred horse to compete at the Meadowlands since his sire, Coktail Jet did so a decade ago.
July 29, 2005
Read the entire story about this European Invader by Clicking Here...

The crowd at Solvalla The final yards of the Elitlopp

Steinlager Wins the 2005 Elitlopp at Solvalla
May 29, 2005
Read about the Norwegian-owned victor

Elitlopp Preview
May 28, 2005
Read about Sweden's Biggest Race now...

To view the complete list of Elitlopp Winners, go to:
http://www.solvalla.se/evenemang/elitloppet_hist.php

Lyell Creek to Retire
May 5, 2005
Read about the New Zealand Champion....

2005 Races In St. Moritz
March 8, 2005
Read about it here...

Scarlet Knight Retires
March 7, 2005
Read the story...

Jage de Bellouet defeated in Paris
February 21, 2005
Read the story now...

Jag de Bellouet Favored in 2005 Prix d'Amerique at Vincennes
January 25, 2005
Jag de Bellouet, a winner of 11 races in a row, is considered to be the heavy favorite in the 84th edition of the Prix d'Amerique which will be contestsed at Vincennes Racecourse in Paris, France on Sunday, January 30.
Read the story...

Hambletonian Winner Scarlet Knight Trotting Under Saddle
January 15, 2005
Scarlet Knight, the 2001 Hambletonian winner, has never raced under saddle, but that hasn't diminished owner-trainer-driver Stefan "Tarzan" Melander's enthusiasm over the horse's chances in the Prix du Cornulier in Paris.
To read the whole story, click here...

Trotting, Swiss Style
Harness racing in the Alps
October 18, 2004
Read The Story

Down Under Racing features Legalized Bookmakers
Harness racing at Harold Park Paceway in New South Wales, Australia
September 27, 2004
Click Here to read the story...

Where Are These Horses Now?
Read about four pacers who make their living as stallions abroad.
September 27, 2004
For the story, click here.

Great Britian Cries The Harness Blues
September 26, 2004
Read About It

History of Monté (Mounted trotting races)
In 1806 the first ridden trotting races for the French trotter were held in Paris, France at Champs de Mars. Of the harnes races held in France today, ten percent are monté races.
The premier of these events is the Prix de Cornulier and is raced at the Hippodrome de Vincennes racetrack. The premier harness race is the Prix d’Amerique. There have been only four exceptional horses that have won both races.