European Trotting Derby

Last updated
European Trotting Derby
Group One International race
LocationVarious European racetracks
Flag of Europe.svg  Europe
Inaugurated1985
Race type Harness race for standardbred trotters
Race information
Distanceapproximately 2,100 meters (1.31 mile)
Qualification4-year-old European-born stallions and mares
Purse≈US$607,000 (€460,000)

The European Trotting Derby, also called UET Grand Prix and Grand Prix de l'UET, is an annual Group One harness event that is arranged by the European Trotting Union, UET. The final takes place on a racetrack in one of the member countries of UET. The event is open for 4-year-old European-born trotters and was first raced in 1985. [1] [2] The 2009 final will be hosted by Tampere Racetrack, Finland, and has a purse of approximately US$607,000, or €460,000. [3] [4]

Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern race system introduced in 1971 and monitored by the European Pattern Committee. To attain or maintain a Group One status, the average rating for the first four finishers in the race must be 115 or higher over a three year period. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities works to ensure consistent international standards. Group One races may only be restricted to age groups or a stipulated sex: they should not be restricted to horses bred in a certain country. Group One (G1) races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia, but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply.

Harness racing form of horse racing

Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait. They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, occupied by a driver, although in Europe, jockeys riding directly on saddled trotters is also conducted.

The Union Europeenne du Trot, or in English, the European Trotting Union, also known by its acronym, UET, is the governing body of European trotting. The federations main purpose "is the promotion of trotting races and horse breeding in Europe as well as their integrity and prestige in the world". Its headquarters are in the country of the General Secretariat and the federation's current president is Swedish Patrik Sandin. UET has 18 member associations.

Contents

Racing conditions

The races

To qualify for the European Trotting Derby final, horses must progress from the qualifying races. These races takes place on two racetracks in two different countries every year, in 2009 at Vincennes, France and Tampere, Finland. [5]

France Republic with mainland in Europe and numerous oversea territories

France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the east, and Andorra and Spain to the south. The overseas territories include French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The country's 18 integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres (248,573 sq mi) and a total population of 67.3 million. France, a sovereign state, is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. Other major urban areas include Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice.

Finland Republic in Northern Europe

Finland, officially the Republic of Finland is a country in Northern Europe bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Norway to the north, Sweden to the northwest, and Russia to the east. Finland is a Nordic country and is situated in the geographical region of Fennoscandia. The capital and largest city is Helsinki. Other major cities are Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Oulu and Turku.

Distance and starting method

The distance has most years been 2,100 meters. Some years, a slight variation has been made, but the distance has always been in the interval 2,000-2,140 meters. The race has always been started by the use of auto start. [2]

Past winners

Drivers with most wins

Stig H. Johansson Horse trainer and driver

Stig Henry Johansson is a Swedish trotting trainer and former driver. He started his career as a professional trainer in 1969, and has during a large part of the career been a dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is regarded as one of the sport's great. Among the horses he has trained are top trotters Victory Tilly, Queen L., Peace Corps, Napoletano, Digger Crown, The Onion and Utah Bulwark. Together with these and other horses, Johansson has won numerous major races, including Elitloppet, Gran Premio della Lotteria, Nat Ray Trot (once) and Prix d'Amérique (once).

Trainers with most wins

Sires with at least two winning offsprings

Countries, number of wins

Sweden constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe

Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Scandinavian Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north and Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund, a strait at the Swedish-Danish border. At 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the third-largest country in the European Union and the fifth largest country in Europe by area. Sweden has a total population of 10.2 million of which 2.4 million has a foreign background. It has a low population density of 22 inhabitants per square kilometre (57/sq mi). The highest concentration is in the southern half of the country.

Germany Federal parliamentary republic in central-western Europe

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe, lying between the Baltic and North Seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France to the southwest, and Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.

Italy republic in Southern Europe

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares open land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and the enclaved microstates San Marino and Vatican City. Italy covers an area of 301,340 km2 (116,350 sq mi) and has a largely temperate seasonal and Mediterranean climate. With around 61 million inhabitants, it is the fourth-most populous EU member state and the most populous country in Southern Europe.

Winner with lowest odds

Winner with highest odds

Fastest winner

All winners of the European Trotting Derby

YearHorseDriverTrainerWinning horse's native countryOdds of winnerWinning time
2008Qualita BourbonJoseph VerbeeckJean BaudronFlag of France.svg  France 1.511:13.2
2007Virgill BokoHugo Langeweg J:rHugo LangewegFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 3.341:14.0
2006Oiseau de FeuxChristian BigeonFabrice SouloyFlag of France.svg  France [6] 1:14.1
2005Conny NobellBjörn GoopBjörn GoopFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1.731:12.9
2004Daguet RapidePietro GubelliniJean-Pierre DuboisFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 1.651:14.2
2003NagloÖrjan KihlströmStefan HultmanFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4.291:13.0
2002Kiss MelodyDominique LocqueneuxPierre Desiré AllaireFlag of France.svg  France 2.631:11.7
2001Abano As Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1.901:12.7
2000Com KaratDominique LocqueneuxJan KruithofFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2.401:14.6
1999Himo Josselyn Jean-Michel Bazire Jean-Michel BazireFlag of France.svg  France 2.901:14.9
1998Giant CatNicolas RousselNicolas RousselFlag of France.svg  France 5.071:15.7
1997General November Pekka Korpi Veijo KivijojaFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 3.001:13.2
1996ElisionJean-Pierre VielAlbert VielFlag of France.svg  France 2.621:15.7
1995Derby du GiteHeinz WeweringSylvain LeliévreFlag of France.svg  France 10.011:14.5
1994Progress ValueLennart ForsgrenKari LähdekorpiFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 22.001:15.1
1993 Ina Scot Kjell P. DahlströmKjell P. DahlströmFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1.201:14.6
1992Jexpress Dahlia Jorma Kontio Jukka-Pekka KauhanenFlag of Finland.svg  Finland 1.911:15.2
1991Market LeaderLeif WitaspLeif WitaspFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 11.301:15.8
1990Ultra DucalPaul VielPaul VielFlag of France.svg  France 4.011:15.4
1989TipoufPierre VercruyssePierre VercruysseFlag of France.svg  France 2.601:17.5
1988Atas Rocket Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4.371:16.6
1987RangoneJean-Pierre DuboisJean-Pierre DuboisFlag of France.svg  France 2.801:14.7
1986Clash Hammering Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3.131:15.4
1985Mack the Knife Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2.201:16.6

[2]

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References

  1. ↑ Bonsdorf, Karsten (2008-11-29). "A big weekend in Italy". ustrotting.com. United States Trotting Association. Retrieved 2009-04-12.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Grand Prix de l'U.E.T." qhurth.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  3. ↑ "2009 Group I races calendar" (PDF). uet-trot.net. European Trotting Union (UET). Retrieved 2009-04-12.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ In the conversion from Euro to USD, the rates of 2009-04-12 have been used.
  5. ↑ "Grand Prix de l'U.E.T. - uttagningslopp". qhurth.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  6. ↑ The winner Jocose was disqualified after a positive doping test. Since Oiseau de Feux was declared winner some time later, there is no winning odds.
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