Elitloppet or Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp is an annual, invitational Group One

Group One

Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...

 harness event

Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...

 that has taken place at Solvalla

Solvalla

Solvalla is a horse racing track located in Bromma, Stockholm, Sweden. It was opened in 1927 and is the biggest harness racing venue in the Nordic countries. The last Sunday in May, Solvalla annually hosts Elitloppet, one of trotting's most prestigious international events.-Elitloppet:*...

 Racetrack in Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

, Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 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 2011 event was SEK6,180,000, equalling approximately US$993,000. The fastest winning time in a final in the history of the race is 1:09.8, run by Exploit Caf in 2008. Elitloppet is part of the European Grand Circuit.

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

Jag de Bellouet

Jag de Bellouet is a French former racing trotter by Viking's Way out of Vaunoise by Nicos du Vivier....

 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

Diclofenac

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug taken to reduce inflammation and as an analgesic reducing pain in certain conditions....

 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 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.

Horses with most wins

• 2 - Varenne
  Varenne
  Varenne is a dark bay former racing trotter by Waikiki Beach out of Ialmaz by Zebu.The italian Varenne is considered the strongest trotter of all time, no other trotter before he got so many important victories and records.Before he started running, in the opinion of several vets, Varenne could...
  
   (2001, 2002)
• 2 - Copiad
  Copiad
  Copiad is a Swedish breeding stallion and former racing trotter by Texas out of Bibbi Girl by Big Lama.His most prestigious victories include Elitloppet , Oslo Grand Prix , Finlandia-Ajo and Olympiatravet . At the end of his career, the stallion had earned US$2,416,093...
  
   (1994, 1995)
• 2 - Mack Lobell
  Mack Lobell
  Mack Lobell is a brown racing trotter by Mystic Park out of Matina Hanover by Speedy Count.He won $3,917,594 during his career. He was elected Harness Horse of the Year in 1987 and 1988...
  
   (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 offsprings

• 2 - Quick Pay (The Onion, Victory Tilly
  Victory Tilly
  Victory Tilly is a Swedish former racing trotter by Quick Pay out of Icora Tilly by Fakir du Vivier.His most prestigious victories include the Swedish Trotting Derby , Elitloppet, Nat Ray Trot and Gran Premio della Lotteria. At the end of his career, the gelding had earned US$5,168,902...
  
  )
• 2 - Alf Palema (Gidde Palema
  Gidde Palema
  Gidde Palema is a Swedish breeding stallion and former racing trotter by Alf Palema out of Rosie Palema by Ideal du Gazeau....
  
  , Torvald Palema)
• 2 - Bulwark (Frances Bulwark
  Frances Bulwark
  Frances Bulwark was a Swedish standardbred racing trotter and brood mare by Bulwark out of Frances Great by Kaffir Axworthy....
  
  , Carné)
• 2 - Epilog (Eidelstedter, Permit)
• 2 - Hoot Mon (Pack Hanover, Dart Hanover)
• 2 - Kerjacques (Eleazar, Jorky)
• 2 - Speedy Crown (Gum Ball, Moni Maker
  Moni Maker
  Moni Maker is a brown standardbred trotter by Speedy Crown out of Nans Catch by Bonefish.She won US$5,589,256, and when her racing career ended in 2000, she was the sport's all-time leading money-winner...
  
  )

Drivers with most wins

• 6 - Stig H. Johansson
  Stig H. Johansson
  Stig Henry Johansson 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 dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...
  
   (1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2000)
• 4 - Johannes Frömming (1962, 1965, 1968, 1970)
• 3 - Leopold Verroken (1976, 1977, 1981)

Countries, number of wins

• 20 -
• 20 -
• 8 -
• 5 - combined with West Germany
  West Germany
  West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
  
  
• 4 -
• 2 -
• 1 -

Short distance (1,600-1,609 m), auto start (1962-)

• 1:09.8 (km rate)/1:52.2 (mile rate) - Exploit Caf (2008)

All winners of Elitloppet

Year	Horse	Driver	Country1	Odds of winner	Winning time
2011	Brioni	Joakim Lövgren		27.06	1:10.5
2010	Iceland	Johnny Takter		8.92	1:10.5
2009 Elitloppet 2009 - The starting list in the final:# Jaded - Örjan Kihlström # Sahara Dynamite - Björn Goop # Triton Sund - Jörgen Sjunnesson # Torvald Palema - Åke Svanstedt# Nimrod Borealis - Matthieu Abrivard...	Torvald Palema	Åke Svanstedt		4.86	1:10.4
2008	Exploit Caf	Jean-Michel Bazire Jean-Michel Bazire Jean-Michel Bazire is a noted French harness racing driver. In 1999 he won the Prix d'Amérique driving Moni Maker. In 2004 he was the driver for Kesaco Phedo who also won the Prix.- References :...		1.78	1:09.8
2007	L'Amiral Mauzun	Jean-Michel Bazire Jean-Michel Bazire Jean-Michel Bazire is a noted French harness racing driver. In 1999 he won the Prix d'Amérique driving Moni Maker. In 2004 he was the driver for Kesaco Phedo who also won the Prix.- References :...		5.29	1:10.0
2006	Conny Nobell	Björn Goop		4.18	1:09.9
2005	Steinlager	Per Oleg Midfjeld		1.86	1:10.0
2004	Gidde Palema Gidde Palema Gidde Palema is a Swedish breeding stallion and former racing trotter by Alf Palema out of Rosie Palema by Ideal du Gazeau....	Åke Svanstedt		1.34	1:10.0
2003	From Above	Örjan Kihlström		9.44	1:10.1
2002	Varenne Varenne Varenne is a dark bay former racing trotter by Waikiki Beach out of Ialmaz by Zebu.The italian Varenne is considered the strongest trotter of all time, no other trotter before he got so many important victories and records.Before he started running, in the opinion of several vets, Varenne could...	Giampaolo Minucci		1.32	1:10.2
2001	Varenne Varenne Varenne is a dark bay former racing trotter by Waikiki Beach out of Ialmaz by Zebu.The italian Varenne is considered the strongest trotter of all time, no other trotter before he got so many important victories and records.Before he started running, in the opinion of several vets, Varenne could...	Giampaolo Minucci		1.47	1:10.7
2000	Victory Tilly Victory Tilly Victory Tilly is a Swedish former racing trotter by Quick Pay out of Icora Tilly by Fakir du Vivier.His most prestigious victories include the Swedish Trotting Derby , Elitloppet, Nat Ray Trot and Gran Premio della Lotteria. At the end of his career, the gelding had earned US$5,168,902...	Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stig Henry Johansson 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 dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...		3.10	1:10.5
1999	Remington Crown	Joseph Verbeeck		4.10	1:12.6
1998	Moni Maker Moni Maker Moni Maker is a brown standardbred trotter by Speedy Crown out of Nans Catch by Bonefish.She won US$5,589,256, and when her racing career ended in 2000, she was the sport's all-time leading money-winner...	Wally Hennessey		2.20	1:10.6
1997	Gum Ball	Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stig Henry Johansson 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 dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...		4.95	1:12.3
1996	Coktail Jet	Jean-Etienne Dubois		4.33	1:11.4
1995	Copiad Copiad Copiad is a Swedish breeding stallion and former racing trotter by Texas out of Bibbi Girl by Big Lama.His most prestigious victories include Elitloppet , Oslo Grand Prix , Finlandia-Ajo and Olympiatravet . At the end of his career, the stallion had earned US$2,416,093...	Erik Berglöf		1.39	1:11.3
1994	Copiad Copiad Copiad is a Swedish breeding stallion and former racing trotter by Texas out of Bibbi Girl by Big Lama.His most prestigious victories include Elitloppet , Oslo Grand Prix , Finlandia-Ajo and Olympiatravet . At the end of his career, the stallion had earned US$2,416,093...	Erik Berglöf		2.38	1:11.8
1993	Sea Cove	Joseph Verbeeck		2.51	1:11.9
1992	Billyjojimbob Billyjojimbob Billyjojimbob was a champion Standardbred trotting gelding by Balanced Image out of Ginger Jewel by Tough Cookie.Bred in Ontario, Canada, he won many stakes races of which the highlights were the Breeders Crown event for aged trotters in track record time at Ladbrooke at The Meadows in 1991 and...	Murray Brethour		2.40	1:11.8
1991	Peace Corps	Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stig Henry Johansson 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 dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...		1.41	1:12.2
1990	Mack Lobell Mack Lobell Mack Lobell is a brown racing trotter by Mystic Park out of Matina Hanover by Speedy Count.He won $3,917,594 during his career. He was elected Harness Horse of the Year in 1987 and 1988...	Thomas Nilsson		1.59	1:11.0
1989	Napoletano	Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stig Henry Johansson 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 dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...		1.57	1:12.8
1988	Mack Lobell Mack Lobell Mack Lobell is a brown racing trotter by Mystic Park out of Matina Hanover by Speedy Count.He won $3,917,594 during his career. He was elected Harness Horse of the Year in 1987 and 1988...	John D. Campbell John Campbell (harness racing driver) John Campbell Born in Ailsa Craig, Ontario John is currently harness racing's all time leading catch driver in money won with.Dunc Campbell and his father before him were Standardbred horsemen. Dunc had at least one son, Jack Campbell based his horses and his family near London, Ontario...		1.52	1:11.3
1987	Utah Bulwark	Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stig Henry Johansson 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 dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...		6.31	1:12.1
1986	Rex Rodney	Kjell Håkonsen Kjell Håkonsen Kjell Håkonsen is a Norwegian harness racing coach and coachman. During his career, he had 5531 starts and won 1094 races. He is best known for having trained and coached Spikeld and Rex Rodney who many rank as Norway's best coach horses of all time...		1.51	1:13.4
1985	Meadow Road	Torbjörn Jansson		5.72	1:11.6
1984	The Onion	Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stig Henry Johansson 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 dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...		2.34	1:12.2
1983	Ianthin	Paul Delanoe		4.15	1:13.2
1982	Ideal du Gazeau	Eugène Lefèvre		2.06	1:13.2
1981	Jorky	Leopold Verroken		3.65	1:13.2
1980	Ideal du Gazeau	Eugène Lefèvre		3.05	1:13.8
1979	Pershing	Berndt Lindstedt		1.71	1:13.7
1978	Hadol du Vivier	Jean Rene Gougeon		2.56	1:14.0
1977	Eleazar	Leopold Verroken		3.55	1:16.0
1976	Dimitria	Leopold Verroken		2.47	1:15.8
1975	Timothy T.	Giancarlo Baldi		2.81	1:17.2
1974	Timothy T.	Giancarlo Baldi		2.70	1:15.7
1973	Ego Boy	Ingemar Olofsson		2.03	1:23.8
1972	Dart Hanover	Berndt Lindstedt		1.27	1:15.3
1971	Tidalium Pelo	Jean Mary		1.80	1:14.7
1970	Eileen Eden	Johannes Frömming		21.12	1:15.5
1969	Fresh Yankee	Joe O'Brien		2.67	1:15.8
1968	Eileen Eden	Johannes Frömming		1.30	1:15.8
1967	Roquepine	Henri Levesque		1.38	1:15.1
1966	Roquepine	Henri Levesque		3.24	1:15.3
1965	Elma	Johannes Frömming		1.42	1:16.5
1964	Pack Hanover	Sergio Brighenti Sergio Brighenti Sergio Brighenti is an Italian former football player and coach. As a player, Brighenti played at both professional and international level as a striker, before beginning his coaching career.-Personal life:...		4.39	1:15.4
1963	Ozo	Roger Massue		1.31	1:16.5
1962	Eidelstedter	Johannes Frömming		4.65	1:17.4
1961	Kracovie	Roger Vercruysse		3.34	1:20.3
1960	Honoré II	Raoul Simonard		21.04	1:19.1
1959	Jamin	Jean Riaud		1.21	1:21.1
1958	Io d'Amour	Gerhard Krüger Gerhard Krüger Gerhard Krüger was a Nazi Party student leader and later a leading figure within the neo-Nazi movement.-Early years:...		1.25	1:18.4
1957	Gelinotte	Charlie Mills Charlie Mills Charles F. Mills was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the New York Mutuals in 1871 and 1872, appearing in 38 games and hitting .226. He died on April 9, 1874 in Brooklyn, New York.-External links:...		1.67	1:16.8
1956	Gelinotte	Charlie Mills Charlie Mills Charles F. Mills was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the New York Mutuals in 1871 and 1872, appearing in 38 games and hitting .226. He died on April 9, 1874 in Brooklyn, New York.-External links:...		1.24	1:16.7
1955	Gutemberg A.	Alain Deheeger		9.85	1:18.9
1954	Carné Carne Carne or Carné is a surname, and may refer to* Sir Edward Carne* Elizabeth Catherine Thomas Carne* James Carne* Jean Carne* John Carne* Joseph Carne* Joseph Edmund Carne* Judy Carne* Marcel Carné* Rick Carne* Warren Carne...	Olle Persson		8.65	1:18.7
1953	Frances Bulwark Frances Bulwark Frances Bulwark was a Swedish standardbred racing trotter and brood mare by Bulwark out of Frances Great by Kaffir Axworthy....	Sören Nordin Sören Nordin Ernst Sören Nordin was a Swedish harness racing driver and trainer who later started a stable in America. Nordin won 3,221 races in 10 different countries as a driver, he won the Swedish Trotting Derby 11 times – still a record. In 1950, Nordin won the Prix d'Amérique, and in 1953 the Elitloppet...		2.25	1:20.6
1952	Permit	Walter Heitman		2.16	1:17.3

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

External links

• elitloppet.se - official website
• Kurt Anderssons Travsida - list with full results