The European Trotting Derby, also called UET Grand Prix and Grand Prix de l'UET, is an annual

Group One 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 races, Pattern race sys ...

harness event that is arranged by the

European Trotting Union 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 ...

, 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. The 2009 final will be hosted by Tampere Racetrack,

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

, and has a purse of approximately US$607,000, or €460,000.

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 countries every year, in 2009 at Vincennes,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and Tampere,

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.

Past winners

Drivers with most wins

* 4 -

Stig H. Johansson Stig Henry Johansson (born 26 July 1945 in Forsa, Hälsingland, Forsa, Hälsingland, Sweden) 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 ...

(1985, 1986, 1988, 2001) * 2 - Dominique Locqueneux

Trainers with most wins

* 4 -

(1985, 1986, 1988, 2001) * 2 - Jean-Pierre Dubois (1987, 2004)

Sires with at least two winning offsprings

* 2 - Pershing (Mack the Knife, Atas Rocket)

Countries, number of wins

* 10 - * 9 - * 2 - * 1 - * 1 - * 1 -

Winner with lowest odds

* Winning odds: 1.20 -

Ina Scot Ina Scot (June 22, 1989 – December 21, 2013) was a Swedish racing trotter by Allen Hanover out of Lovina Grefgård by Mad Scot. Her most prestigious victories included the Swedish Trotting Criterium (Swedish: ''Svenskt Travkriterium'') (199 ...

(1993)

Winner with highest odds

* Winning odds: 22.00 - Progress Value (1994)

Fastest winner

* 1:11.7 (km rate) - Kiss Melody (2002)

All winners of the European Trotting Derby

References

{{reflist Harness racing in Europe