The 2019 World Drivers Championships (WDC) will be held in Sweden in conjunction with the annual running of the Elitloppet (Solvalla Raceway), Europe’s premier trotting sprint event (mile heats followed by a final on same afternoon). These events are timed for late May 2019 (Friday 24 – Friday 31 May).
Equi Tours Sweden, a major European travel organizer specialising in equestrian events and activities have arranged a tour incorporating both its normal Elitloppet tour and taking in the 2019 World Drivers Championships being held in Sweden.
Having been fortunate enough to travel to the 2016 Elitloppet with my wife as part of a tour group hosted by Equi Tours, I can whole heartedly endorse their professionalism and attention to detail which ensured a memorable few days in Stockholm. Marie Nyberg and her team do a great job.
Welcome dinner for 2016 Elitloppet Tour – Craig’s top of table on the right
Highlights of the 2019 WDC/Elitloppet tour (Thursday 23 May/Sunday morning 2 June 2019) will include :
- Welcome Dinner Thursday 23 May
- several days harness racing including Sweden Cup and Elitloppet Day’s at Solvalla Raceway in Stockholm
- Finals banquette
- Visits to Menhammer Stud, Yearling Sales
- Evening Dinner Cruise (Saturday 25 May)
- Stockholm sightseeing possibly including ABBA/VASA (Viking ship) Museums etc
- Departures can be Sat 1 June (pm) or Sunday 2 June
Note – Elitloppet Weekend only (Thursday 23 May – Mon morning 27 May 2019) available for booking.
James McDonald (Canada), the reigning World Drivers Champion from Canada in 2017 will be representing the International Trotting Association (ITA) in Sweden. The winner of Standardbred Canada’s 2018 National Driving Championship at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday 26 September was Doug McNair who will be Canada’s representative for the 2019 WDC in Sweden.
The USTA has announced that their leading driver on earnings for the past four seasons Yannick Gingras will be the USA representative in Sweden. New Zealand (to be confirmed) and Australia currently do not have a timeframe for announcing who will represent them in Sweden. European representatives are determined at the European Driving Championships held to determine their six drivers for the 2019 WDC.
Whilst the brochure for the 2019 WDC/Elitloppet tour is not yet available, you can get some idea of aspects of the tour by viewing the brochure relating to the 2018 Elitloppet tour on Equi Tours website www.equitours.se and/or contacting Marie Nyberg at info@equitours.se to register your interest in the 2019 WDC/Elitloppet tour. The tour package will include accommodation, entrance, transfers and more. A tour programme covering all aspects including costs and other details should be available in approximately a month’s time. Further deatails will be advsed once they are to hand.
Together with a number of others from New Zealand and Australia, we are already planning our attendance at this significant harness racing event. It would be outstanding to get a good number of harness racing enthusiasts from the Southern Hemipshere and North America to support their drivers and European colleagues in Sweden in late May 2019 for the World Drivers Championships together with 2019 Elitloppet weekend.
Peter Craig
3 October 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
