by Thomas Hedlund

Hall of Famer Stig H Johansson, 78, has ended his career as a professional trainer. The most successful trainer in Sweden’s history will now enjoy his retirement in his home Stora Alby outside of Stockholm.

Johansson won his first race in August 1963 and 6,224 additional victories in the bike would follow during his long career. As a trainer, Johansson claimed 8,206 wins and among all these victories he won Elitloppet six times, The Derby seven times, the Kriteriet five times and the Prix d’Amérique one time.

Johansson’s dominance in the sport in Europe during the ’80s and ’90s was total. He was a serious factor wherever he competed and he was not shy in testing his horses in countries outside of Sweden. In America, Johansson was successful with Peace Corps in the Breeders Crown and when he won the Nat Ray Trot with Victory Tilly in 2002, he did it in a new world record time of 1:50.4.

At the end of 2005, Johansson announced that he would quit driving his horses in races and Erik Adielsson became the stable’s first driver. Since 2005, Johansson has won a handful of races participating in events where special drivers have been invited to compete.

It’s hard to imagine that someone else will dominate the sport to the same extent as Johansson, creating so many great memories for the fans of harness racing all over the world.

UPSET IN PRIX DE BOURGOGNE

The third B-race before the Prix d’Amérique, the $125,000 Prix de Bourgogne over 1.3 miles, starting with a car, was held at Vincennes on Sunday (Dec. 31) afternoon and an already Prix d’Amérique-qualified trotter became the answer to the riddle.

Fabrice Souloy-trained Gu d’Heripre (Coktail Jet) didn’t get an easy trip by his driver Francois Lagadeuc. The duo got cover three-wide during the race’s first mile, and from that point Gu d’Heripre did the heavy job outside of new leader Horsy Dream.

Souloy’s trotter had already qualified for the Prix d’Amérique finishing third behind San Moteur and Izoard Vedaquais in the Prix du Bourbonnais and he proved that he will be a serious threat even in the big race later this month as he easily sprinted to a safe win in a mile rate of 1:52.3.

Strong finisher Emeraude de Bais captured his spot in the Prix d’Amérique as second and Souloy’s mare Ampia Mede Sm was third.

HORSES QUALIFIED FOR PRIX D’AMÉRIQUE:

Prix de Bretagne:

Hussard du Landret

Hooker Berry

Hokkaido Jiel

Prix du Bourbonnais:

San Moteur

Izoard Vedaquais

Gu d’Heripre

Criterium Continental

Jushua Tree (will not race in PdA)

Prix Tenor de Baune:

Idao de Tillard

Prix de Bourgogne:

Gu d’Heripre

Emeraude de Bais

Ampia Mede Sm