Tenor De Baune’s story

A new article has been added to the collection. “The Horse who did the untinkable”. The story of Tenor de Baune. By Lisa Harkema.

When Jean-Baptiste Bossuet looked at the yearling in September 1986, he wasn’t particularly impressed. There just was no “wow” feeling to the chestnut, but breeder Bernard Hallope, keen on selling, offered Bossuet 50 % at a low price if he would start training the horse. Bossuet accepted, somewhat reluctantly, as he knew that many other buyers, including some big-name trainers, had examined the yearling and found him wanting. Could all of them be so wrong? As it turned out, they could.

Breaking him in and then training him carefully – Bossuet isn’t one to rush his youngsters – Tenor de Baune improved steadily but his trainer still didn’t feel any “wow” factor. Hallope didn’t really want to own part of a racehorse and signaled to Bossuet that if he could find a buyer for the remaining half of the horse he was very keen on selling. Close to Christmas 1988, Bossuet persuaded his brother to buy the second half of the 2-year-old horse for a lowly 25,000 francs, less than 4,000 euros. Tenor de Baune was still unstarted but had qualified 3 months earlier. Still, Bossuet thought he had a decent horse, but nothing more, on his hands.
 

Read the full story here

Idao De Tillard double PdA winner!

What a race performance we saw from the 2024 champion in this edition of the Prix d’Amerique! Racing three wide for most of the race, Idao De Tillard (by Severino) crushed all opponents and was simply the best horse in the field. Win time was a very strong 1.11,1/2700m vaulting start took him to a controlled victory. Second was Just Love You (by Love You). Third was UET Elite Circuit Final winner Go On Boy (by Password). Somewhat unusual, fourth place went to Go On Boy’s half brother Josh Power (by Offshore Dream). Frenchman Thierry Duvaldestin trains Idao de Tillard, who also trained the legendary Ready Cash, and is now responsible for two double Prix d’Amerique winners! His son Clément was in the bike. Idao de Tillard’s groom is Norwegian Susanne Ohme. (photo above by Kurt Einevåg. Below screen grab from LeTrot.)

See the race here

The Horse of Your Life

Hambletonian is approaching quick. Here is a tribute to one of  its heroes, double champion Ready Cash.

He was one of the best trotters the world has seen and went on to become an even better stallion before he died too soon. The story of Ready Cash is a fascinating tale of coincidences, but most of all the story of one of the most legendary trotters ever.

Klick here to read his life story

Prix d’Amerique 2025

Here is the most probable lineup for Prix d’Amerique race 2025 next weekend. It is one of the toughest races in the world, is raced over 2700m on the big oval at Vincennes racetrack in Paris, the track that has a height difference of over 20 ft from highest to lowest point. Most of the field have qualified through various races, and a few gets in the race automatically due to high lifetime earnings. Geldings are not alowed to take part. Most horses this year are French, with three exceptions. There are three mares in the field; Irose de la Noé (1),  Just Love You (8) and Emeraude de Bais (12). Two previous champions are racing. Hooker Berry from 2023 and Idao de Tillard from last year. (Click the links to see horses that we have in the gallery section).

Please note that there might be slight changes in the days coming up to next weekend.

  1. Iroise de la Noé – by Tornado Bello – Pollenza de la Noe by Kiwi. 1.11,0/€340 900
  2. Keep Going – by Follow You – Discovery Bond by Royal Dream. 1.09,7/€483 620
  3. Justin Bold – by Bold Eagle – Udine by Coktail Jet 1.10,0/€549 580.
  4. Fakir de Mahey – by Reve de Beylev – Mahey Storm by Dahir de Prelong 1.10,4/€640 460
  5. Idéal Ligneries – by Repeat Love – Ouragane by Elvis de Rossignol 1.09,8/€644 550
  6. It’s A Dollarmaker – by Saxo de Vandel – Salt Lake City by Insert Gede 1.10,9/€652 230.
  7. Josh Power – by Offshore Dream – Balginette by Hasting. 1.09,9/€1.09,9
  8. Just Love You – by Love You – Just In Love by Ever Jet. 1.10,0/€752.050
  9. Hussard du Landret – by Bird Parker – Anakine du Bellay by Look de Star 1.10,3/€1 021 360.
  10. Elvis du Vallon – by Reve de Beylev – Premiere de Beylev by Elvis de Rossignol 1.09,6/€1 031 620.
  11. Hokkado Jiel – by Brillantissime – Victory Jiel by Love You. 1.09,1/€1 035 880
  12. Emeraude de Bais – by Repeat Love – Haute Tension by Biesolo. 1.08,33/€1 047 760
  13. San Moteur (s) – by Panne de Moteur – Aung San Suu Kyi by Ready Cash. 1.19,7/€1 299 153
  14. Don Fanucci Zet (s) – Hard Livin – Kissed By The West by Western Terror. 1.08,7/€1 524 238
  15. Ampia Mede Sm (I) – by Ganymede – Polimpia Slide Sm by Yankee Slide. 1.09,6/€1 567 896
  16. Go On Boy – by Password – Balginette by Hasting. 1.08,4/€1 704 870.
  17. Hooker Berry – by Booster Winner – Osaka Berry by Caballio in Blue. 1.08,6/€1 818 420
  18. Idao de Tillard – by Severino – America de Tillard by First de Retz. 1.09,4/€2 448 660.