Sprintermästaren – ‘The European Sprinter Championship’

Sprintermästaren is usually called the ‘The European Hambo’, which - except for the identical distance - might be a little misleading. It is an annual event for European and US-bred four-year-old trotters, raced on a 1000-meter track (5/8 mile) over one mile. Considering most harness races in Sweden are 2140 meters (‘middle distance’) or 1640 meters (short distance’) run on 1000 meters tracks, 1609 meters is considered a ‘sprinter distance’ and quite rare. Except from the Elitlopp, which is open for aged horses, Sprintermästaren is the only annual race over sprinter distance. Similar to the Elitlopp, eliminations and final are contested on the same day with the top three plus the best seeded four from the elimination heats qualifying for the final.

The first edition was held in 1971 and was won by Cirro and racing legend Sören Nordin. Since then, several great horses have won the race, e.g. The Onion, Mr Lavec and Scarlet Knight. When The Onion won the race in 1983 at 1.12,0 (1:55.4), he marked a world-record for trotters on a 1000 meters track. Mr Lavec was in Jimmy Takter’s care most of his career and won Sprintermästaren in 1995. Scarlet Knight won the Hambletonian in 2001 and followed up by winning Sprintermästaren in 2002.

A Special Day

The races were contested in Halmstad Thursday on July 8, and despite some showers before post time, it was a beautiful summer night. Weather conditions were perfect for trotting, hitting a maximum temperature around 25°C (77°F). The track was in great condition and the arena was crowded, not beating the attendance record but well comprising some 12,000 people. Families and friends had gathered in groups around the track. Thousands of people are coming back year after year for the annual meeting, making this to a special event where young and old, rich and poor meet to share their passion for trotting. Most of them are enthusiasts and gamblers, but several are there for the ambiance solely.

Eliminations

The classical races in Sweden are mainly for three- and four-year-old horses, with only one big race for the two-year-olds. The main season for four-year-olds starts in May with Kungapokalen (‘The Royal Trophy’), and this year’s winner Sebastian K was the natural favorite to win Sprintermästaren too. In the end, Sprintermästaren 2010 was about three horses only, with the first two elimination heats won from the lead with the winners Sebastian K and You Bet Hornline hitting the same mark at 1.11,5/1609a (1:55.0). Select Yankee won the third elimination via an explosive speed on the backstretch, hitting the best mark of the day at 1.10,9/1609a (1:54.1).

After the three eliminations, tickets were drawn and the starting positions for the final were selected. The trials were worth €10,000($13,500) each and the final €100,000 ($142,000) to the winner.

The Final:

Horse – Driver

1 Sebastian K – Lutfi Kolgjini

2 Select Yankee – Åke Svanstedt

3 You Bet Hornline – Robert Bergh

4 Vejby Boom – Jan Hansen

5 Global Limousine – Björn Goop

6 Hot Southwind – Joakim Lövgren

7 Zyrano Boko – Örjan Kihlström

8 Oracle – Johnny Takter

9 Alvena Pampas – Per Lennartsson

10 Turbo Viking - Thomas Uhrberg

The final started before the sun set around 9.40 pm. The wind was still warm and the air fresh, and with the horses behind the gate, a specific atmosphere spreads in the audience and for a moment it’s absolutely quiet. The silence was broken the moment they were off, and Sebastian K raced to the front, whilst Select Yankee was parked first over. You Bet Hornline was third on the outside and on the backstretch, Robert Bergh took a chance and found inside passage with his horse; a move that turned out to be brilliant. In the last turn, it looked like Sebastian K would give Lutfi Kolgjini his second consecutive triumph in the race, but Robert Bergh managed to find a gap between Sebastian K and Select Yankee on the outside, and sprinted home the race at 1.11,1/1609a (1:54.2). Select Yankee did a good race from the outer position and finished second before Turbo Viking who fulfilled well after another race on the inside.

Those Behind You Bet Hornline

Robert Bergh has since long proved his skills as a master of preparation for the annual races. The trial was the first time You Bet Hornline competed without shoes and with a blind bridle. Even though the horse has won ten out of his 18 entries, he has never been close to any victory of this magnitude before. This is in fact the only classical race You Bet Hornline was nominated for and the trainer has since long aimed at Sprintermästaren for the horse. You Bet Hornline has an interesting heritage; his sire San Pellegrino is the result of a Prakas mare bred to Valley Victory. You Bet Hornline was bred by one of the major breeders in Sweden, Stuteri Hornline, and is the last offspring by her dam Evergreen Ri.