Elitloppet (literally: "The Elite Race") or Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp is an annual, invitational Group One harness event that has taken place at Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden, since 1952. The competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting. The winner is decided through two qualifying rounds and a subsequent final later the same day. Both the eliminations and the final are raced over the mile. The overall purse for the 2022 event was SEK11,350,000, equalling approximately US$1,073,000. In 2002 the Italian champion Varenne, (considered the strongest trotter of all time), took it in a world record time of 1:10.4 in the elimination and then bested that mark by winning the final in 1:10.2 – the fastest mile ever trotted around three turns. The fastest winning time in a final is 1:08.0, run by the French Horsy Dream in 2024.Jag de Bellouet won in 1:09.4 in 2006, but was later disqualified.Panne de Moteur won an elimination race in 2014 in 1:08.9. Elitloppet was part of the European Grand Circuit and is part of that circuit's successor, the UET Masters Series.
History
The beginning The first Elitloppet was run in 1952 under the name of Solvallas Jubileumslopp (approximately "Solvalla's Jubilee Race"). Winner the opening year was the German horse Permit. The following year, the event changed name to Elitloppet.
The doping affair in 2006 In Elitloppet 2006, French star trotter Jag de Bellouet won in a record time of 1:09,4 (km rate), with Italian Lets Go in second place. At a press conference a few weeks after the Elitloppet Day, it was announced that both horses had been disqualified due to positive doping tests. Jag de Bellouet and Lets Go tested positive for diclofenac and etacrynic acid, respectively. After the disqualifications, Swedish Conny Nobell was announced the official winner of the 2006 event. The general secretary in the Swedish Trotting Association (STC), Ulf Hörnberg, expressed that the double disqualifications was a "tragedy" for the event.
The Propulsion scandal Propulsion is a stallion that was imported from the United States 2015 to race in Sweden for trainer Daniel Redén.Profile of Propulsion sportapp.travsport.se (in Swedish) Retrieved 2020-11-02 The USTA (United States Trotting Association) sent an export certificate to Svensk Travsport (The Swedish trotting association). Prior to being imported Propulsion had been nerved and according to Swedish regulations no nerved horse is allowed to race or participate in breeding. It was indicated in the export certificate that the horse was nerved but this was never spotted by Svensk Travsport. The horse was allowed to race and won over 30 million SEK in prize money. In 2020 the horse had never won Elitloppet and participated for the fifth time. In the elimination heat he finished third. Due to his trip in the race his performance was considered very impressive.Mardömsförsöket: "Vilken jävla häst" aftonbladet.se (in Swedish) Retrieved 2020-11-02 In the final, Propulsion crossed the finish line first.Propulsion vann Elitloppet - på femte försöket:"Många tårar" svt.se (in Swedish) Retrieved 2020-11-02 Two days after Propulsion's victory the Norwegian magazine Trav-og Galopp-nytt published an article claiming to have evidence that Propulsion was nerved and Svensk Travsport opened an investigation into the matter.Efter ST:s krismöte- utredning inleds aftonbladet.se (in Swedish)Retrieved 2020-11-02 On 29 October 2020 Svensk Travsport announced that Propulsion was racing in violation of the rules and he was thus stripped of all his results in Sweden. No decision has been made concerning Propulsion's results in other European countries. The matter has now been handed over to STAD (Svenskt Travsports Ansvars-och Disciplinnämnd, literally "Liability and Disciplinary committee of Svensk Travsport") to determine if any sanctions should be handed out. The lawyer of Svensk Travsport, Göran Wahlman said that Daniel Redén did not intentionally violate the rules but, as the trainer, he is strictly liable.Svensk Travsports presskonferens om Fallet Propulsion Video of the press conference where the findings of the Propulsion investigation were announced (in Swedish)
Racing conditions
The races In 1952–1958 and in 1973, Elitloppet was decided through two heats followed by a race-off if not one and the same horse won both heats. In 1959–1961, when a longer distance was trotted, only a single race was run. Since 1962 (with the exception of 1973), a concept of two eliminations and one final has been used. The number of horses in the eliminations has varied from seven to twelve during these years, but there have always been eight trotters in the final.
Distance The distance has, with the exception of the years 1959–1961, been in the interval of 1,580–1,640 meters. In 1959, the horses ran 3,200 meters, and the two following years, the distance was approximately 2,700 meters.
Starting method During the first ten years, 1952–1961, volt start was used in Elitloppet. From 1962 and on, a motorized starting gate has been used, changing the starting method from volt start to auto start.
The Elitloppet weekend Elitloppet is traditionally raced on the last Sunday of May. Solvalla stages races both Saturday and Sunday which makes up a meet, known in Sweden as "The Elitloppet weekend" (Swedish: Elitloppshelgen). The two days are generally well-visited and is considered one of Sweden's biggest sports events. In 2008, a total of over 53,000 people attended the events at Solvalla.
Past winners
Horses with most wins 2 - Timoko (2014, 2017) 2 - Varenne (2001, 2002) 2 - Copiad (1994, 1995) 2 - Mack Lobell (1988, 1990) 2 - Ideal du Gazeau (1980, 1982) 2 - Timothy T. (1974, 1975) 2 - Eileen Eden (1968, 1970) 2 - Roquepine (1966, 1967) 2 - Gelinotte (1956, 1957)
Sires with at least two winning offspring 2 - Quick Pay (The Onion, Victory Tilly) 2 - Andover Hall (Nuncio, Magic Tonight) 2 - Alf Palema (Gidde Palema, Torvald Palema) 2 - Bulwark (Frances Bulwark, Carné) 2 - Epilog (Eidelstedter, Permit) 2 - Hoot Mon (Pack Hanover, Dart Hanover) 2 - Kerjacques (Eleazar, Jorky) 2 - Speedy Crown (Gum Ball, Moni Maker)
Sires who won and sired a winner
Timoko (Etonnant)
Drivers with most wins 6 - Stig H. Johansson (1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2000) 4 - Johannes Frömming (1962, 1965, 1968, 1970) 4 - Örjan Kihlström (2003,2015,2016,2021) 3 - Leopold Verroken (1976, 1977, 1981) 3 - Björn Goop (2006,2014,2017)
Countries, number of wins 27 – 25 – 10 – 5 – combined with West Germany 3 – 2 – 2 –
Fastest winners
Short distance (1,600-1,609 m), auto start (1962-) 1:08.0 (km rate) - Horsy Dream (2024)
Short distance (1,580-1,640 m), volt start (1952-1958) 1:16.7 (km rate) - Gelinotte (1956)
Long distance (2,700-3,200 m), volt start (1959-1961) 1:19.1 (km rate) - Honoré II (1960)
All winners of Elitloppet
Year Horse Driver Country1 Odds of winner Winning time 1952 Permit Walter Heitman 2.16 1:17.3 1953 Frances Bulwark Sören Nordin 2.25 1:20.6 1954 Carné Olle Persson 8.65 1:18.7 1955 Gutemberg A. Alain Deheeger 9.85 1:18.9 1956 Gelinotte Charlie Mills 1.24 1:16.7 1957 Gelinotte Charlie Mills 1.67 1:16.8 1958 Io d'Amour Gerhard Krüger 1.25 1:18.4o 1959 Jamin Jean Riaud 1.21 1:21.1 1960 Honoré II Raoul Simonard 21.04 1:19.1 1961 Kracovie Roger Vercruysse 3.34 1:20.3 1962 Eidelstedter Johannes Frömming 4.65 1:17.4 1963 Ozo Roger Massue 1.31 1:16.5 1964 Pack Hanover Sergio Brighenti 4.39 1:15.4 1965 Elma Johannes Frömming 1.42 1:16.5 1966 Roquepine Henri Levesque 3.24 1:15.3 1967 Roquepine Henri Levesque 1.38 1:15.1 1968 Eileen Eden Johannes Frömming 1.30 1:15.8 1969 Fresh Yankee Joe O'Brien 2.67 1:15.8 1970 Eileen Eden Johannes Frömming 21.12 1:15.5 1971 Tidalium Pelo Jean Mary 1.80 1:14.7 1972 Dart Hanover Berndt Lindstedt 1.27 1:15.3 1973 Ego Boy Ingemar Olofsson 2.03 1:23.8 1974 Timothy T. Giancarlo Baldi 2.70 1:15.7 1975 Timothy T. Giancarlo Baldi 2.81 1:17.2 1976 Dimitria Leopold Verroken 2.47 1:15.8 1977 Eleazar Leopold Verroken 3.55 1:16.0 1978 Hadol du Vivier Jean Rene Gougeon 2.56 1:14.0 1979 Pershing Berndt Lindstedt 1.71 1:13.7 1980 Ideal du Gazeau Eugène Lefèvre 3.05 1:13.8 1981 Jorky Leopold Verroken 3.65 1:13.2 1982 Ideal du Gazeau Eugène Lefèvre 2.06 1:13.2 1983 Ianthin Paul Delanoe 4.15 1:13.2 1984 The Onion Stig H. Johansson 2.34 1:12.2 1985 Meadow Road Torbjörn Jansson 5.72 1:11.6 1986 Rex Rodney Kjell Håkonsen 1.51 1:13.4 1987 Utah Bulwark Stig H. Johansson 6.31 1:12.1 1988 Mack Lobell John D. Campbell 1.52 1:11.3 1989 Napoletano Stig H. Johansson 1.57 1:12.8 1990 Mack Lobell Thomas Nilsson 1.59 1:11.0 1991 Peace Corps Stig H. Johansson 1.41 1:12.2 1992 Billyjojimbob Murray Brethour 2.40 1:11.8 1993 Sea Cove Joseph Verbeeck 2.51 1:11.9 1994 Copiad Erik Berglöf 2.38 1:11.8 1995 Copiad Erik Berglöf 1.39 1:11.3 1996 Coktail Jet Jean-Etienne Dubois 4.33 1:11.4 1997 Gum Ball Stig H. Johansson 4.95 1:12.3 1998 Moni Maker Wally Hennessey 2.20 1:10.6 1999 Remington Crown Joseph Verbeeck 4.10 1:12.6 2000 Victory Tilly Stig H. Johansson 3.10 1:10.5 2001 Varenne Giampaolo Minnucci 1.47 1:10.7 2002 Varenne Giampaolo Minnucci 1.32 1:10.2 2003 From Above Örjan Kihlström 9.44 1:10.1 2004 Gidde Palema Åke Svanstedt 1.34 1:10.0 2005 Steinlager Per Oleg Midfjeld 1.86 1:10.0 2006 Conny Nobell Björn Goop 4.18 1:09.9 2007 L'Amiral Mauzun Jean-Michel Bazire 5.29 1:10.0 2008 Exploit Caf Jean-Michel Bazire 1.78 1:09.8 2009 Torvald Palema Åke Svanstedt 4.86 1:10.4 2010 Iceland Johnny Takter 8.92 1:10.5 2011 Brioni Joakim Lövgren 27.06 1:10.5 2012 Commander Crowe Christophe Martens 3.01 1:10.4 2013 Nahar Robert Bergh 5.48 1:10.1 2014 Timoko Björn Goop 2.94 1:09.5 2015 Magic Tonight Örjan Kihlström 4.35 1:10.1 2016 Nuncio Örjan Kihlström 3.10 1:09.2 2017 Timoko Björn Goop 30.89 1:09.0 2018 Ringostarr Treb Wilhelm Paal 3.47 1:09.0 2019 Dijon Romain Derieux 27.78 1:10.3 2020 Cokstile Christoffer Eriksson 4.38 1:10.4 2021 Don Fanucci Zet Örjan Kihlström 3.79 1:08.9 2022 Etonnant Anthony Barrier 10.18 1:09.32023HohneckGabriele Gelormini7.691:08.92024Horsy DreamEric Raffin3.811:08.02025Go On BoyRomain Derieux3.351:08.42026AllegiantÖrjan Kihlström8.981:07.1 1 Nationality of the winning horse's owner(s)
See also Harness racing in Sweden List of Scandinavian harness horse races
References
External links
elitloppet.se - official website Kurt Anderssons Travsida - list with full results