This ten day combined Elitloppet/World Drivers Championship (WDC) tour arranged by Equi Tours Sweden, commenced with a get together dinner with other travellers on Thursday evening prior to Elitloppet Day at our Stockholm hotel, Clarion Sign. Our main group consisting of eleven Australians (including prominent breeder and nonagenarian Helen Head), four Canadians (including reigning World Champion James MacDonald’s parents Fred and Gail plus Jim and Angela Whelan) and two Kiwis took in both Elitloppet weekend and the WDC. A further four Kiwis(including Canterbury trainer Kevin Townley and his wife Margaret) and five Australians joined the group for Elitloppet Weekend only while a separate small Scandinavian group arranged by Equi Tours was also staying at the same hotel.
All harness racing in Sweden/mainland Europe is trotting only (no pacers although United Kingdom have both pacers and trotters). The 2019 Championship represents the third occasion that Sweden have hosted them since they commenced in 1970 – previously held in Sweden in 1987 and 2001.
The individual countries driver’s representatives were :
Todd McCarthy – Australia
Mika Forss, Finland
Franck Nivard, France
Doug McNair – Canada
James McDonald – Canada, reigning world champion
Rodney Gatt, Malta
Rick Ebbinge, Netherlands
Eirik Höitomt, Norway
Matthew Williamson, New Zealand
Ulf Ohlsson, Sweden
Michael Nimczyk, Germany
Yannick Gingras, USA
Thursday 23 May 2019 –
The tour commenced with a welcome get together dinner in the Kitchen and Table Norrmalm at the Clarion Hotel Sign, our abode for the next four nights. Guests from New Zealand, Australia and Canada were joined by Christina Olsson, Director of Breeding at Swedish Trotting Association.
Friday 24 May 2019 –
Following a hearty Swedish breakfast, the group took a sightseeing tour of Stockholm with its many historic and interesting sights, such as the Royal Castle, the Old Town and much more before ending up at the VASA (Viking) Ship Museum. As was the case for the full tour, we were accompanied by Melinda Lindh Nilsson, our tour leader (Marie Nyberg also assisted during Elitloppet Weekend). At the conclusion of the tour, the group split into two, one party having lunch at the VASA Museum and an opportunity to explore it at their leisure afterwards whilst those forming the WDC tour party had their initial viewing of Solvalla Raceway. NB : all Swedish tracks are of 1000m duration with eight horses starting off the front line. A number of the WDC heats were for “cold blood” horses, popular in Scandinavia.
Friday afternoon’s racing was a relatively low key meeting incorporating the first three heats of the WDC at Solvalla.
Friday 24 May : Solvalla (1000m, opened 1927, located in Bromma, suburb of Stockholm with racing being conducted in an anti-clockwise direction : Addington/Menangle/Melton etc). Night racing forms part of the seasonal programme of events : winners of the first three heats of the WDC programme were Mika Forss and James MacDonald (2140mM), Ulf Ohlsson (2640mM). The three heat winners led after the completion of the first day’s heats – Ohlsson on 33 points from Forss 31 and MacDonald 28.
A visit to the stabling area showed each trainer/racing stables having their own allocated set of stalls often with their name displayed. Their horse floats were either large 6/8 carriers’ or side loading 2 horse floats. The general stabling area also contained a numbers room; drivers room/café; grooms stand and media area where the barrier draws for Sweden Cup and Elitloppet finals would be conducted in following days. Stable entry was not difficult Friday afternoon compared to Sweden Cup and Elitloppet days when stable passes were difficult to obtain and security was tight (passes were available to all tour party members).
Late afternoon following the conclusion of the afternoon’s racing, we departed Solvalla to attend the ELIT – Selected Yearling sale held at the Scandic Infra City hotel facility on the outskirts of Stockholm. The Yearling Sale featured progeny from leading Swedish stallion Maharajah, as well as American bred stallions Andover Hall, Broadway Hall, Cantab Hall, Muscle Hill, Chocolatier, Donato Hanover, Father Patrick, Trixton, SJ‘s Caviar; French stallions Love You, Bold Eagle, Orlando Vici and Ready Cash; Italian stallion Varenne and 2019 Elitloppet contender Swedish champion Readly Express. A top price of 1,525,000SEK (approx 140,000 Euro) was paid for the Ready Cash colt Bottnas Ideal from a Scarlet Knight mare.
Saturday 25 May 2019 –
Saturday morning we toured the Menhammar Stud farm, Sweden’s largest and most famous breeding barn. This historic stud farm is set in beautiful surroundings no more than 30 minutes from the central of Stockholm. Its owner Margareta Wallenius-Kieberg has stood famous stallions like Mack Lobell, Zoot Suit, Smokin Yankee. Among the eight stallions standing at stud in 2019 are From Above (Zoot Suit/A Gift From Heaven), Maharajah (Viking Kronos/Chili Khan), Readly Express (Ready Cash/Caddie Dream), Nuncio (Andover Hall/Nicole Isabelle) and Chocolatier (Credit Winner/Maple Frosting).
A tour of the breeding complex at Menhammar with viewing of mares that had recently foaled was followed by morning tea where many trophies collected by the stud were seen. A great experience to again see first-hand some of the leading European trotting stallions and the overall Menhammar complex.
Our tour also took in the training facility of Menhammer, Ytterta where successful European trainer Stefan Hultman used to train producing such stars as Elitloppet winner From Above and Prix d’Amerique winner Maharajah, two of the stallions seen at Menhammer.
Following our Saturday morning touring, we headed back to Solvalla for an afternoon of 13 races, with major races (finals Sweden Cup, mile races consisting of heat/final for horses just below Elitloppet level- won by Queer Fish [Varenne]; Harper Hannover lopp race (3140m), won by Eelis [Enjoy Lavec]) plus V75 races (effectively a Pick Seven with multimillion SEK pools), a major betting option in Sweden. In addition, a further heat of the WDC was held, the result being victory for Rick Ebbinge in a 1640mM event. Point’s leader after two days and four heats was Mika Forss (Finland).
Leaving Solvalla following the running of the Harper Hannovers, in the evening, we took a spectacular dinner cruise on the archipelago of Stockholm on Lake Malaren to the World Heritage and home of the Swedish Royal Family, Drottningholm Palace. Our beautifully restored ship M/S Prins Carl Philip, was built in 1901 and refurbished in late 1970’s and is named after Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip.
Elitloppet Day : Sunday 26 May 2019 –
By tradition, the Elitloppet is held on the last Sunday of May (26 May 2019), with races staged on both Saturday and Sunday making up the Elitloppshelgen (Elitloppet weekend).
The Elitloppet is a prestige international trotting event providing world class racing with large crowds attending. The by invitation only race has been held annually at Solvalla racetrack in Stockholm since 1952. Some of the world’s leading trotters compete for the large purse on offer (2019 – 6mSEK) with the winner determined via two qualifying heats over 1609m/1 mile (500kSEK) of eight starters with a final later the same day. The Elitloppet forms part of the European Grand Circuit and is considered one of Sweden’s major sporting events.
The two minute barrier was beaten for the first time in Europe when Flower Child recorded a time of T1:13.8EU/1:58.8 in a 1973 Elitloppet heat. Dual Elitloppet winner French trotter Timoko (2014, 2017) holds two of the three fastest times recorded 1:09.0 (T1:51.0, 2017) and 1:09.5EU (T1:51.8, 2014) while Nuncio (American bred/Swedish owned) trotted 1:09.2EU in 2016. A number of horses have won the Elitloppet twice; legendary Stig H. Johansson six winning drives (1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2000) and winning horse owners by country being (2018 inclusive): Sweden (24), France (22), Italy (9), Germany (5), USA (3), Norway and Canada (2 each).
For the 68th running of the Elitloppet, we took up our comfortable vantage point in the VIP restaurant Festvaningen (top deck of stand overlooking winning post providing panoramic views, part of a multi-level grandstand viewing points, glass enclosed), enjoying great viewing of all the proceedings of Elitloppet Day. The all trotting programme featured many quality trotters from several European countries together with a monte and the cold-blood trotters much favoured in Nordic countries.
There are a large number of outdoor folding chairs/tables from which to view racing positioned along the fence in the home straight together with hospitality tents and marquees catering for patrons. Restaurants and fast food outlets provided the large crowd with plenty of varied culinary delights while souvenir stalls provided a feast of items for purchase.
Elitloppet Day consisted of 13 races commencing at 12.40pm with three 640 metre mobile sprints, three to a heat with winners running off shortly after heats completed. Patrons, officials and horsemen enjoyed the Elitloppet parade before proceedings commenced. The parade before the largish crowd, the size of which was impacted by numerous passing showers, was the major non-racing entertainment on Elitloppet Day. It commenced from the stabling area/grooms stand and travelled the full length of the main straight. It included the Elitloppet 2019 flag, choirs singing Swedish national anthem (and “Celebration”), flag raising, Swedish military outriders, and an open flat deck truck conveying all of the Elitloppet drivers/trainers following their introduction to the crowd.
Field sizes varied between eight in Elitloppet/Sweden Cup races, ten in monte and other races, often twelve to a field up to a maximum of 15. Race intervals were generally 25/30 minutes.
Races were run over various distances ranging from mobile 640m sprints, 1 mile events (1609m including monte and cold blood trotter’s races), 2140m plus single volt start events (walk up handicapped standing starts) over the two days at distances of 2140m, 2640m and 3140m. The stewards view the races from a tower positioned in the middle of the course. There were no WDC heats on Elitloppet Day giving all the international drivers an opportunity to become fully engaged in the day’s proceedings.
The warm up tracks inside the main Solvalla track were always busy with several large track grooming vehicles in constant use. A large water feature is prominent inside the track together with a very large screen for on course patrons to view proceedings. The atmosphere is amazing with an incredibly enthusiastic crowd giving generous applause to all participants (winners and losers, before, during and after racing), displaying their national/patriotic support with flags and applicable chants. The noise levels are at times deafening. The level of media attendance including photographers is large representing many nations.
The Elitloppet heats and final produced close contests with all participants providing an elite trotting spectacle.
The first heat saw champion Swedish trotter Readly Express (7e Ready Cash/Caddie Dream), starting from barrier seven take out this heat with Makethemark and Looking Superb filling the remaining dividend bearing places. Next Direction finished fourth to qualify for the final.
Boom French trotter Aubrion Du Gers (9e Memphis du Rih/J’Arrive du Gers) took out the second heat, starting from the pole position and leading all the way. Propulsion competing in his fourth consecutive Elitloppet finished second, Dijon third and Milliondollarrhyme rounded out the quartet qualifying for the final. Both heats were run in T1:10.2 (T1:53.0 mile rate).
The first surprise in this year’s Elitloppet was the sensational late scratching of Swedish champion Readly Express due to lameness (it was his last race before being retired for stud duties). With barrier positions drawn based on finishing positions in the earlier heats, Dijon lead throughout from barrier five holding off the strong late challenge of Aubrion Du Gers by a neck at the line. Makethemark finished third while Propulsion ended up fourth (finished second, third, fourth and fifth in four Elitloppet starts).
Dijon was trained and driven by Romain Derieux for owner Mauricette De Sousa, with his winning time in the 6mSEK Elitloppet (3mSEK to winner) a respectably fast T1:10.3 (T1:53.1MR) considering the wet track conditions. Dijon was unfancied being at odds of 27.8/1 in winning his thirteenth race in a fifty start career with earnings now of 10,739,454SEK and a best time of T1:08.9EU.
Dijon is a 6yo entire by French stallion Ganymede from a Coktail Jet mare in Sonate d’Aunou (T1:16.9, E20,810). She belongs to the European family of Madamoiselle de Lassay (CF E125), containing four European Group One winners. Dijon’s breeding contains numerous top line trotting stallions from Europe and North America on both his paternal and maternal sides. The Elitloppet was Dijon’s third European Group One success.
Other Stakes/Group features run on Elitloppet Day were :
Elite – 3yo (Hakan Wallner Memorial) : AETOS KRONOS (by champion French horse Bold Eagle, twice Prix d’Amerique winner in 2016, 2017)
Elite – 4yo (Tommy Hannes lopp : MISSILE HILL (bred in USA, by Muscle Hill)
Elite – 4yo mares (Fyraaringsstjarnan) : ZALIE GAR (by champion Italian horse Varenne, twice winner of Prix d’Amerique and Elitloppet)
Cold Bloods Elitkampen (Jim Fricks lopp) : TANGEN HAAP (Norway)
All in all, a superb day of trotting, my second Elitloppet, as good as the first in 2016.
Monday 27 May 2019 –
A late morning departure from Stockholm with our first stop at rural restaurant Westerqvarn for our lunch stop around 1pm. Next was the large riding centre of Stromsholm, one of three Swedish national horse centres (northern being harness racing only, central this one and south) which cater for youngsters (aged 15 – 18), university and other groups with riding, teaching etc.
We then departed by bus for Fornaboda racetrack in Lindesberg for another five heats of the WDC, part of a programme of ten races run in the evening. The weather was damp with passing showers and rather cool. On a track with no lights it was pretty dark by race eight and the track boasted no grandstand as such.
Monday 27 May : Fornaboda Travbana, Lindesberg (1000m, opened 1951, anti-clockwise) : winners of the five heats of the WDC programme were dual winner Doug McNair (both 2140mM), Rodney Gatt (1640mM), Eirik Hoitmot (2640mM) and joint winners Yannick Gingras and Matthew Williamson (dead heat, 2140mM), Williamson coming with a late run from well back to tie with Gingras’s drive on the favourite. Ulf Ohlsson led on 76.5 points from Hoitmot 74 and Williamson 72.5).
After the races concluded, we travelled a further 1½hrs to Eskilstuna, over overnight stop for the next two nights arriving after 11pm to conclude a lengthy day’s activities.
Tuesday 28 May 2019 –
After a leisurely morning in Eskilstuna, an early afternoon departure saw the group head to trainer Markus B Svedberg’s Markus farm. This modern facility contains newly built stables and all the necessary training facilities.
Departure to Sundbyholm race track late afternoon, a track that operates as a riding arena and hosts large show jumping competitions each year. Sundbyholm is one of thirty three tracks in Sweden being the fifth largest with thirty seven meetings each season (all year round except Xmas Eve). An excellent presentation at this track prior to racing commencing where the tour group was hosted to bubbles, a small gift, video on the equestrian centre/track and a guided tour of the stables. The drivers were introduced to the crowd and signed autographs for patrons.
Evening racing for today’s WDC heats together with a BBQ – buffet dinner in the VIP tent where we were joined by delegates attending the World Trotting Conference.
Tuesday 28 May : Sundbyholm, Eskilstuna (1000m, opened 1955, anti-clockwise) : winners of the five heats of the WDC programme were two heat winner Doug McNair (1640mM, 2140mM) for the second night in a row, Rick Ebbinge, Eirik Hoitmot (2140mM) and Ulf Ohlsson (2640mM). Canadian McNair led on 123.5 points from Ohlsson 118.5 and Ebbinge 115.5.
Wednesday 29 May 2019 –
With travel today taking us between Eskilstuna and our overnight location for the next two evenings in Rattvik (approx. 3hr drive), time allowed an early afternoon visit to view the property and horses at one of Sweden’s most successful young trainees who recently received his professional training licence – Oskar J Anderson.
We checked in briefly at our hotel Dalecarlia before today’s races in Rattvik in the evening. The Rattvik track is celebrating one hundred years in existence this season although the current track was opened in 1955. Dinner was served in the tracks upstairs restaurant.
Wednesday 29 May : Rättvik Travbana, Rattvik (1000m, opened 1955, anti-clockwise) : winners of the five heats of the WDC programme were Yannick Gingras, Mika Forss (1640mM), Michael Nimczyk, Ulf Ohlsson (2140mM) and Eirik Hoitmot (2640mM). Sweden’s Ulf Ohlsson led on 166.5 points from McNair 164.5 and Forss 154.
Thursday 30 May 2019 –
A day off for the international drivers today enabled a day of sightseeing for the accompanying “supporters” touring party. This included a factory visit where we learnt all about the famous “Dala horse” which originates from this area. A Dalecarlian horse or Dala horse is a traditional carved, painted wooden statue of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna. Lunch was served at a nice venue in beautiful surroundings in the local area.
Friday 31 May 2019 –
Leaving our past two nights overnight accommodation in Rattvik, a mid-morning transfer to Gavle (approx. 2hrs drive) for this afternoon’s races with a buffet lunch in the track restaurant.
Friday 31 May : Gavle (1000m, opened 1938, anti-clockwise) : winners of the final five heats of the WDC programme were dual winner Rick Ebbinge (2140mM, 2640mM), James MacDonald (1640mM), Yannick Gingras (2640mM) and Matthew Williamson (2140mM). Williamson on a cold blood trotter from barrier seven was wide to the first turn before taking the lead which he held easily for the balance of the journey.
Thanks to his two winners on the final day Dutchman Rick Ebbinge leap frogged from sixth position on 146.5 points prior to the final day’s heats to win the World Drivers Championship for 2019.
Final points –
Rick Ebbinge (Netherlands) 199.5 – First
Yannick Gringras United States) 193.5 – Second
Ulf Ohlsson, Sweden 191.5 – Third
Doug McNair (Canada) 189.5
Eirik Höitomt (Norway) 187
Matthew Williamson (New Zealand) 181.5
Mika Forss (Finland) 177
Franck Nivard (France) 162
James Mcdonald (World Trotting
Association representative) 154
Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 151.5
Rodney Gatt (Malta) 142
Todd McCarthy (Australia) 136
All bar two drivers managed at least a solitary victory during the 24 heat championship – multiple winners were Ebbinge (4), McNair (4), Gingras (3), Ohlsson (3), Hoitmot (3), Forss (2), Williamson (2) and MacDonald (2). The importance of wins can be seen in the five point difference between first and second (19 v 14 points) placing.
Leaving Gavle late afternoon after the conclusion of the WDC, we travelled back to Stockholm (approx. 2hrs), overnighting at our hotel Scandic Grand Central. Several participants attended the World Driving Championship Gala Dinner at the IT bar and restaurant Grodan (“the frog”).
Saturday 1 June 2019 –
Following the conclusion of the WDC, tour participants started departing Stockholm at the conclusion of a successful and enjoyable ten days of harness racing and associated action. Some left today for direct return home, others later and/or departed for other travel destinations before a final return home.
Next World Drivers Championships is likely to be in Italy in 2021 (will be in Europe in any case) – this is subject to confirmation as Italy was not represented at this year’s World Trotting Conference.
Peter Craig
24 June 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
