Oslo Grand Prix

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]

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 2012 Oslo Grand Prix

May 13 2012

1. Roxane Grif - Eric Raffin
2. Yarrah Boko - Kai Johansen
3. Quarcio du Chene - Björn Goop
4. Timoko - Richard Westerink
5. Arch Madness - Trond Smedshammer
6. Commander Crowe - Christophe Martens
7. Viking Frecel - Vidar Hop
8. Windsong Geant - Rick Zeron
9. Beanie M.M. - Johnny Takter
10. Joke Face - Lutfi Kolgjini

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
• 3 -  United States
• 2 -  Denmark
• 1 -  Germany
• 1 -  Italy
• 1 -  Netherlands
• 1 -   Switzerland

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
2012	Commander Crowe	Christophe Martens	Sweden	1:11.5
2011	Arch Madness	Björn Goop	United States	1:11.5
2010	Lisa America	Jorma Kontio	United States	1:11.7
2009	Russel November	Hugo Langeweg J:r	Netherlands	1:14.3
2008	L'Amiral Mauzun	Tony Le Beller	France	1:11.5
2007	Super Light	Jörgen Westholm	Sweden	1:12.2
2006	Mara Bourbon	Erik Adielsson	France	1:13.2
2005	Steinlager	Per Oleg Midtfjeld	Norway	1:12.5
2004	Gidde Palema	Åke Svanstedt	Sweden	1:11.7
2003	Gidde Palema	Åke Svanstedt	Sweden	1:12.2
2002	Brads Photo	Wim Paal	Italy	1:13.9
2001	Giant Cat	Nicolas Roussel	France	1:12.1
2000	Victory Tilly	Stig H. Johansson	Sweden	1:12.0
1999	Ganymede	Jean-Pierre Dubois	France	1:12.6
1998	Huxtable Hornline	Joseph Verbeeck	Sweden	1:13.2
1997	Zoogin	Åke Svanstedt	Sweden	1:14.6
1996	Ina Scot	Helen A. Johansson	Sweden	1:12.9
1995	Copiad	Erik Berglöf	Sweden	1:12.7
1994	Copiad	Erik Berglöf	Sweden	1:12.7
1993	Nordin Hanover	Olle Goop	Sweden	1:14.3
1992	Sea Cove	Joseph Verbeeck	Germany	1:14.6
1991	Peace Corps	Stig H. Johansson	Sweden	1:14.1
1990	Meadow Roland	Preben Kjaersgaard	Denmark	1:13.8
1989	Ourasi	Michel-M. Gougeon	France	1:13.5
1988	Sugarcane Hanover	Gunnar Eggen	United States	1:12.5
1987	Rex Rodney	Kjell Håkonsen	Norway	1:13.7
1986	Rex Rodney	Kjell Håkonsen	Norway	1:14.7
1985	Ogorek	Michel Roussel	Switzerland	1:16.0
1984	Hickory Almahurst	Ulf Nordin	Denmark	1:16.3
1983	E.O. Brunn	Bo W. Takter	Sweden	1:15.6
1982	Zorrino	Tommy Hanné	Sweden	1:18.9
1981	Pamir Brodde	Karl Erik Nilsson	Sweden	1:16.3
1980	Express Gaxe	Gunnar Axelryd	Sweden	1:17.1
1979	Hillion Brillouard	Philippe Allaire	France	1:19.9
1978	Grande Frances	Ulf Thoresen	Sweden	1:17.0
1977	Race cancelled
1976	Grande Frances	Ulf Thoresen	Sweden	1:19.7
1975	Hassan Star	Kjell P. Dahlström	Sweden	1:19.1
1974	Boett	Sören Norberg	Sweden	1:21.0
1973	Gaby Bulwark	Sören Nordin	Sweden	1:18.6
1972	Noble Action	Sören Nordin	Sweden	1:18.1
1971	Unor	Lars Axelsson	Sweden	1:19.5
1970	Race cancelled
1969	Baron Gruff	Gösta Nordin	Sweden	1:23.5
1968	Race cancelled
1967	Xanthe	Gösta Nordin	Sweden	1:23.6
1966	Scott Protector	Karsten Buer	Norway	1:23.0

¹ Nationality of the winning horse's owner(s)

References