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.

New horses in the gallery

Latest addition to the gallery are a number of horses, photography by Amanda Stephens Photo at the Red Mile. Several will be racing in this year’s edition of the Breeders’ Crown.

Tactical Approach
Prince Of Honor
Alrajah One
Blonde Bombshell
Bryant Bros
Buy A Round
Draw The Line
Espresso
Eternal Lee
Joviality
Jiggy Jog
Jujubee
Karl
Mambacia
Mommamia Volo
Mr Bluebird
Periculum
Pickpocket
Pizzelle
Rebuff
Security Protected
Soiree Hanover
Special Way
TCI
Walner Payton
Warrawee Michelle
Excalibur Bi

Idao de Tillard invited to the Elitlopp

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Ready Cash passes at 18

(photo: Olivier Houdart – Dollar.fr)

This morning the tragic news came that one of the best stallions the world has ever seen, Ready Cash, had passed away due to colics. He was trained by Philippe Allaire and Thierry Duvaldestin, won 40 of 70 races, including the Prix d’Amerique twice, and earned almost €4,3 million, at the time the richest  French trotter in history. He has been more than outstanding as sire, the most famous of his offspring are  Bold Eagle and Face Time Bourbon who also won the biggest Franch race twice each, and Readly Express who won once. Ready Cash also had a handful of foals in the USA, Back Of The Neck and Ready For Moni. Several of his sons also have a very strong start as stallions.

Ready Cash’s death is a huge loss for trotting world wide.

Read the article about  Ready Cash  here. By Lisa Harkema.

Defi d’Aunou has passed

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New photographer added to the site

We have over the years gathered together a huge collection of photographs from top photographers around the world, and also from private sources, books, museums  and historic documents.

Claes Kärrstrand, Monica Thors, Dave Landry, Nigel Soult, Olivier Houdart/Dollar, Mark Kentell, Kanzebu, USTA/Mark Hall, Harness Racing Museum, Harness&Fair World, Larry Cohen, Erik Widén, Clive Cohen, Chris  Tully, Amanda Stephens and others have all allowed us to display their excellent work.

Today another has been added. It is the Swedish photographer Kurt Einevåg who trawls Scandinavian tracks taking race photos, and gives us an invaluable chance to get photos of old and current horses from this area. First off of his photo is Hickothepooh who won the Group I races Finlandia Ajo and Ulf Thoresen Grand International in 2022.

Muscles Yankee has died

We have been informed that sadly Muscles Yankee has left us at age 25. He has surely made a solid mark as sire both in North America and Europa, and has been one of the most used stallions the past 20 years. Himself a Hambletonian winner, he also sired three of his own; Muscle Hill, Muscle Massive and Deweycheatumnhowe. His son Muscle Hill also turned out to be an extraordinary stallion. Muscle Yankee’s legacy includes production of a huge number of millionaires, world champions and stakes winners. He is also a prominent broodmare sires, for example to Lucky Chucky, Hot Shot Blue Chip, Explosive Matter and Finnish trotter Brad de Veluwe to mention a few. Muscles Yankee has also been awarded Elite sire status in Sweden for his Swedish production. He stood most of his career at Perretti Farms in New Jersey, and was one of the most widely used stallions in the world.

Viking Kronos article added

“I don’t give a shit if you race in pink, do the business” … He may just be the best stallion Europe has ever seen.

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