- Oslo Grand Prix
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Group One International race Oslo Grand Prix Location Bjerke Racetrack, Oslo,
NorwayInaugurated 1966 Race type Harness race for standardbred trotters Website www.bjerke.no/Oslo-Grand-Prix Race information Distance 2,100 meters (1.31 mile) Track Left-handed 1,000 meter track (0.62 mile) Qualification Invitational Purse ≈US$427,000 (NOK 2.87 million, ≈€308,000) Oslo Grand Prix is an annual Group One harness event that takes place at Bjerke Racetrack in Oslo, Norway.[1] The competition was inaugurated in 1966 and is regarded as Norway's biggest trotting event.[2][3] It is raced over 2,100 meters and is part of the European Grand Circuit. The overall purse for the 2009 event was 2.87 million Norwegian kroner (NOK), equalling approximately US$427,000 or €308,000.[2][4] The fastest winning time in the history of the race is 1:11.5, run by L'Amiral Mauzun in 2008.[5]
Contents
Racing conditions
Oslo Grand Prix is since 1981 been decided through a race over 2,100 meter. Before that, the event had different looks. In the debut year, 1966, the event consisted of two heats over different distances (1,600 and 2,100 meters). The same eight horses competed in both heats and the winner was the horse with the best total ranking. These conditions were altered the second year, 1967. Two heats were still used, but this year they were over 1,700 and 2,100 meters, with richer horses starting 20 meters behind. 1973 the event went back to being decided over one 1,600 and one 2,100 heat. Between 1976 and 1980, 16 horses competed, divided into two elimination heats, from which a number of horses progressed to the final the same day. In 1976, both the eliminations and the final were over 1,700 meters. In 1978 autostart (a motorized gate) was introduced, and the Oslo Grand Prixs of 1978-1980 consisted of eliminations heat over 1,600 meters followed by finals over 2,100 meters. From 1981, the present conditions have been ruling. One single race over 2,100 meters, started by a motorized gate.[6]
The 2009 Oslo Grand Prix
The starting list
- Oyonnax - Joseph Verbeeck (Vincent Brazon)
- Tinita Love - Geir Vegard Gundersen (Ole Björn Hoppestad)
- Finders Keepers - Åke Svanstedt
- Colombian Necktie - Thomas Uhrberg (Roger Walmann)
- Offshore Dream - Pierre Levesque
- Megaman Neo - Did not start
- Russel November - Hugo Langeweg J:r
- Inzaghi - Jeppe Juel
- Igor Font - Jean-Michel Bazire (Fabrice Souloy)
- Triton Sund - Örjan Kihlström (Stefan Hultman)[7]
(Trainer, if other than driver, in parentheses)
The race
Finders Keepers breezed to the front instantly and set up a low pace. Parked outside was Swedish Triton Sund, second-hand favourite. Offshore Dream, the betting favourite, ran in third over and had another French stallion, third favourite Igor Font, behind him. Russel November was last until the final stretch, when he, as well as the two French top trotters in front of him, attacked on the outside. Finders Keepers gave up easily and parker Triton Sund took over. Russel November finished superbly to win by a length, in front of Triton Sund, Igor Font, Offshore Dream and Norwegian Tinita Love.[7][8]
Russel November, a German-born 6-year-old stallion with Dutch trainer and owners, won in 1:59.3 (mile rate)/1:14.3 (km rate). The son of General November won US$230,000.[5][7][8]
Past winners
Horses with most wins
- 2 - Copiad (1994, 1995)
- 2 - Gidde Palema (2003, 2004)
- 2 - Grande Frances (1976, 1978)
- 2 - Rex Rodney (1986, 1987)[5]
Drivers with most wins
- 3 - Åke Svanstedt (1997, 2003, 2004)
- 2 - Erik Berglöf (1994, 1995)
- 2 - Kjell Håkonsen (1985, 1986)
- 2 - Stig H. Johansson (1991, 2000)
- 2 - Gösta Nordin (1967, 1969)
- 2 - Sören Nordin (1972, 1973)
- 2 - Ulf Thoresen (1976, 1978)
- 2 - Joseph Verbeeck (1992, 1998)[5]
Sires with most winning offsprings
- 2 - Nevele Pride (Hickory Almahurst, Meadow Roland)
- 2 - Noble Victory (E.O. Brunn, Noble Action)
- 2 - Texas (Nordin Hanover, Copiad)[5]
Countries, number of wins
Based on the nationalities of the winning horses' owners:
- 24 -
Sweden - 6 -
France - 4 -
Norway - 2 -
Denmark - 1 -
Germany - 1 -
Italy - 1 -
Netherlands - 1 -
Switzerland - 1 -
United States[8][9]
Fastest winner
Auto start (1978-)
Short distance (1,600 m)
- 1:15,8 (km rate) - Madison Avenue (1978) and Gadames (1980)[6]
Middle distance (2,100 m)
- 1:11.5 (km rate) - L'Amiral Mauzun (2008)[6]
Volt start (1966-1976)
Short distance (1,600 - 1,700 m)
- 1:18.1 (km rate) - Noble Action (1972)[6]
Middle distance (≈2,100 m)
- 1:20,6 (km rate) - Molnets Broder (1975) (won the longer of that year's two races and finished second overall)[6]
All winners of Oslo Grand Prix
Year Horse Driver Country1 Winning time 2009 Russel November Hugo Langeweg J:r Netherlands1:14.3 2008 L'Amiral Mauzun Tony Le Beller France1:11.5 2007 Super Light Jörgen Westholm Sweden1:12.2 2006 Mara Bourbon Erik Adielsson France1:13.2 2005 Steinlager Per Oleg Midtfjeld Norway1:12.5 2004 Gidde Palema Åke Svanstedt Sweden1:11.7 2003 Gidde Palema Åke Svanstedt Sweden1:12.2 2002 Brads Photo Wim Paal Italy1:13.9 2001 Giant Cat Nicolas Roussel France1:12.1 2000 Victory Tilly Stig H. Johansson Sweden1:12.0 1999 Ganymede Jean-Pierre Dubois France1:12.6 1998 Huxtable Hornline Joseph Verbeeck Sweden1:13.2 1997 Zoogin Åke Svanstedt Sweden1:14.6 1996 Ina Scot Helen A. Johansson Sweden1:12.9 1995 Copiad Erik Berglöf Sweden1:12.7 1994 Copiad Erik Berglöf Sweden1:12.7 1993 Nordin Hanover Olle Goop Sweden1:14.3 1992 Sea Cove Joseph Verbeeck Germany1:14.6 1991 Peace Corps Stig H. Johansson Sweden1:14.1 1990 Meadow Roland Preben Kjaersgaard Denmark1:13.8 1989 Ourasi Michel-M. Gougeon France1:13.5 1988 Sugarcane Hanover Gunnar Eggen United States1:12.5 1987 Rex Rodney Kjell Håkonsen Norway1:13.7 1986 Rex Rodney Kjell Håkonsen Norway1:14.7 1985 Ogorek Michel Roussel Switzerland1:16.0 1984 Hickory Almahurst Ulf Nordin Denmark1:16.3 1983 E.O. Brunn Bo W. Takter Sweden1:15.6 1982 Zorrino Tommy Hanné Sweden1:18.9 1981 Pamir Brodde Karl Erik Nilsson Sweden1:16.3 1980 Express Gaxe Gunnar Axelryd Sweden1:17.1 1979 Hillion Brillouard Philippe Allaire France1:19.9 1978 Grande Frances Ulf Thoresen Sweden1:17.0 1977 Race cancelled 1976 Grande Frances Ulf Thoresen Sweden1:19.7 1975 Hassan Star Kjell P. Dahlström Sweden1:19.1 1974 Boett Sören Norberg Sweden1:21.0 1973 Gaby Bulwark Sören Nordin Sweden1:18.6 1972 Noble Action Sören Nordin Sweden1:18.1 1971 Unor Lars Axelsson Sweden1:19.5 1970 Race cancelled 1969 Baron Gruff Gösta Nordin Sweden1:23.5 1968 Race cancelled 1967 Xanthe Gösta Nordin Sweden1:23.6 1966 Scott Protector Karsten Buer Norway1:23.0 1 Nationality of the winning horse's owner(s)
References
- ^ "2009 Group I races calendar". uet-trot.net. European Trotting Union (UET). http://www.uet-trot.net/UET/pdf/en/gr.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ^ a b "OGP_innbydelse". bjerke.no. http://www.bjerke.no/Bjerke/dokumenter/OGP_innbydelse_2009.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ^ Bonsdorf, Karsten (2005-05-17). "Steinlager: Norwegian national hero". harnesslink.com. http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=24918. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ^ In the conversion from NOK to USD, the rates of 2009-04-29 have been used.
- ^ a b c d e f "Oslo Grand Prix" (in Swedish). qhurth.com. http://www.qhurth.com/trav/lopp/oslogp.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e "Samtlige premielister OGP" (in Norwegian). bjerke.no. http://www.bjerke.no/Oslo-Grand-Prix1/Samtlige-premielister-OGP/. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ^ a b c Engebretsen, Magne (2009-05-10). "Russel November vant VG Oslo Grand Prix" (in Norwegian). bjerke.no. http://www.bjerke.no/Aktuelt/2009/Mai/Russel-November-vant-VG-Oslo-Grand-Prix/. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ^ a b c d Bonsdorf, Karsten (2009-05-11). "Russel November wins the Oslo Grand Prix". ustrotting.com. United States Trotting Association. http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=31640&z=1. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ^ a b "Følgende land har vunnet VG Oslo Grand Prix" (in Norwegian). bjerke.no. http://www.bjerke.no/Oslo-Grand-Prix1/Folgende-land-har-vunnet-VG-Oslo-Grand-Prix/. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
Categories:- Harness racing in Norway
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