# Elitloppet

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. 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. 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. In the final, Propulsion crossed the finish line first. 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. 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.

## 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)

### 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

* 26 – France
* 25 – Sweden
* 10 – Italy
* 5 – Germany combined with West Germany
* 3 – United States
* 2 – Norway
* 2 – Canada

### 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 | Country$^1$ | Odds of winner | Winning time |
| 1952 | Permit | Walter Heitman | West Germany | 2.16 | 1:17.3 |
| 1953 | Frances Bulwark | Sören Nordin | Sweden | 2.25 | 1:20.6 |
| 1954 | Carné | Olle Persson | Sweden | 8.65 | 1:18.7 |
| 1955 | Gutemberg A. | Alain Deheeger | France | 9.85 | 1:18.9 |
| 1956 | Gelinotte | Charlie Mills | France | 1.24 | 1:16.7 |
| 1957 | Gelinotte | Charlie Mills | France | 1.67 | 1:16.8 |
| 1958 | Io d'Amour | Gerhard Krüger | West Germany | 1.25 | 1:18.4o |
| 1959 | Jamin | Jean Riaud | France | 1.21 | 1:21.1 |
| 1960 | Honoré II | Raoul Simonard | France | 21.04 | 1:19.1 |
| 1961 | Kracovie | Roger Vercruysse | France | 3.34 | 1:20.3 |
| 1962 | Eidelstedter | Johannes Frömming | West Germany | 4.65 | 1:17.4 |
| 1963 | Ozo | Roger Massue | France | 1.31 | 1:16.5 |
| 1964 | Pack Hanover | Sergio Brighenti | Italy | 4.39 | 1:15.4 |
| 1965 | Elma | Johannes Frömming | United States | 1.42 | 1:16.5 |
| 1966 | Roquepine | Henri Levesque | France | 3.24 | 1:15.3 |
| 1967 | Roquepine | Henri Levesque | France | 1.38 | 1:15.1 |
| 1968 | Eileen Eden | Johannes Frömming | Italy | 1.30 | 1:15.8 |
| 1969 | Fresh Yankee | Joe O'Brien | Canada | 2.67 | 1:15.8 |
| 1970 | Eileen Eden | Johannes Frömming | Italy | 21.12 | 1:15.5 |
| 1971 | Tidalium Pelo | Jean Mary | France | 1.80 | 1:14.7 |
| 1972 | Dart Hanover | Berndt Lindstedt | United States | 1.27 | 1:15.3 |
| 1973 | Ego Boy | Ingemar Olofsson | Sweden | 2.03 | 1:23.8 |
| 1974 | Timothy T. | Giancarlo Baldi | Italy | 2.70 | 1:15.7 |
| 1975 | Timothy T. | Giancarlo Baldi | Italy | 2.81 | 1:17.2 |
| 1976 | Dimitria | Leopold Verroken | France | 2.47 | 1:15.8 |
| 1977 | Eleazar | Leopold Verroken | France | 3.55 | 1:16.0 |
| 1978 | Hadol du Vivier | Jean Rene Gougeon | France | 2.56 | 1:14.0 |
| 1979 | Pershing | Berndt Lindstedt | Sweden | 1.71 | 1:13.7 |
| 1980 | Ideal du Gazeau | Eugène Lefèvre | France | 3.05 | 1:13.8 |
| 1981 | Jorky | Leopold Verroken | France | 3.65 | 1:13.2 |
| 1982 | Ideal du Gazeau | Eugène Lefèvre | France | 2.06 | 1:13.2 |
| 1983 | Ianthin | Paul Delanoe | France | 4.15 | 1:13.2 |
| 1984 | The Onion | Stig H. Johansson | Sweden | 2.34 | 1:12.2 |
| 1985 | Meadow Road | Torbjörn Jansson | Sweden | 5.72 | 1:11.6 |
| 1986 | Rex Rodney | Kjell Håkonsen | Norway | 1.51 | 1:13.4 |
| 1987 | Utah Bulwark | Stig H. Johansson | Sweden | 6.31 | 1:12.1 |
| 1988 | Mack Lobell | John D. Campbell | United States | 1.52 | 1:11.3 |
| 1989 | Napoletano | Stig H. Johansson | United States | 1.57 | 1:12.8 |
| 1990 | Mack Lobell | Thomas Nilsson | United States | 1.59 | 1:11.0 |
| 1991 | Peace Corps | Stig H. Johansson | United States | 1.41 | 1:12.2 |
| 1992 | Billyjojimbob | Murray Brethour | Canada | 2.40 | 1:11.8 |
| 1993 | Sea Cove | Joseph Verbeeck | Canada | 2.51 | 1:11.9 |
| 1994 | Copiad | Erik Berglöf | Sweden | 2.38 | 1:11.8 |
| 1995 | Copiad | Erik Berglöf | Sweden | 1.39 | 1:11.3 |
| 1996 | Coktail Jet | Jean-Etienne Dubois | France | 4.33 | 1:11.4 |
| 1997 | Gum Ball | Stig H. Johansson | Sweden | 4.95 | 1:12.3 |
| 1998 | Moni Maker | Wally Hennessey | United States | 2.20 | 1:10.6 |
| 1999 | Remington Crown | Joseph Verbeeck | France | 4.10 | 1:12.6 |
| 2000 | Victory Tilly | Stig H. Johansson | Sweden | 3.10 | 1:10.5 |
| 2001 | Varenne | Giampaolo Minnucci | Italy | 1.47 | 1:10.7 |
| 2002 | Varenne | Giampaolo Minnucci | Italy | 1.32 | 1:10.2 |
| 2003 | From Above | Örjan Kihlström | Sweden | 9.44 | 1:10.1 |
| 2004 | Gidde Palema | Åke Svanstedt | Sweden | 1.34 | 1:10.0 |
| 2005 | Steinlager | Per Oleg Midfjeld | Norway | 1.86 | 1:10.0 |
| 2006 | Conny Nobell | Björn Goop | Sweden | 4.18 | 1:09.9 |
| 2007 | L'Amiral Mauzun | Jean-Michel Bazire | France | 5.29 | 1:10.0 |
| 2008 | Exploit Caf | Jean-Michel Bazire | Italy | 1.78 | 1:09.8 |
| 2009 | Torvald Palema | Åke Svanstedt | Sweden | 4.86 | 1:10.4 |
| 2010 | Iceland | Johnny Takter | Sweden | 8.92 | 1:10.5 |
| 2011 | Brioni | Joakim Lövgren | Germany | 27.06 | 1:10.5 |
| 2012 | Commander Crowe | Christophe Martens | Sweden | 3.01 | 1:10.4 |
| 2013 | Nahar | Robert Bergh | Sweden | 5.48 | 1:10.1 |
| 2014 | Timoko | Björn Goop | France | 2.94 | 1:09.5 |
| 2015 | Magic Tonight | Örjan Kihlström | Sweden | 4.35 | 1:10.1 |
| 2016 | Nuncio | Örjan Kihlström | Sweden | 3.10 | 1:09.2 |
| 2017 | Timoko | Björn Goop | France | 30.89 | 1:09.0 |
| 2018 | Ringostarr Treb | Wilhelm Paal | Italy | 3.47 | 1:09.0 |
| 2019 | Dijon | Romain Derieux | France | 27.78 | 1:10.3 |
| 2020 | Cokstile | Christoffer Eriksson | Italy | 4.38 | 1:10.4 |
| 2021 | Don Fanucci Zet | Örjan Kihlström | Sweden | 3.79 | 1:08.9 |
| 2022 | Etonnant | Anthony Barrier | France | 10.18 | 1:09.3 |
| 2023 | Hohneck | Gabriele Gelormini | France | 7.69 | 1:08.9 |
| 2024 | Horsy Dream | Eric Raffin | France | 3.81 | 1:08.0 |
$^1$ Nationality of the winning horse's owner(s)