The Horse Who Counted Laps
by Lisa Harkema
He was one of Norway and Scandinavia’s best trotters for years and hailed from an exceptional group of siblings that included several elite trotters. Though described as “the most intelligent trotter I have ever dealt with”, Scott Protector could be grouchy and a handful at times. Regardless, he was an excellent trotter – and when that wasn’t enough, his trainer employed team tactics against the opposition.
When Otto Madsen imported the 14-year old Elsie Scott 2:10 (1.20,8) – a full sister to Rose Scott and Scotland – to Norway in 1935, he couldn’t possibly realize the massive impact she would have. The mare had 7 foals in Norway, all started an all were winners. Two finished second in the Norwegian Derby; Marie Mcelwyn in 1939 and Kinney Spencer in 1942. Then three of her daughters produced a Derby winner; Spenda in 1954, McKinney Boy in 1957 and Scott Protector in 1965. The latter was a son of Marion Ford, one of the best broodmares in Norwegian trotting history. Marion Ford, a daughter of the blind champion stallion Senator Ford, had 11 foals, of which 10 were starters and winners. Four of these were among Norway’s best trotters in the 50s and 60s. As an aside, before export Elsie Scott had two daughters in the US. One of these, Elsie Truax, left a massive legacy on the pacing side with big names such as No Nukes, Rock N Roll Heaven, Clear Vision, Silent Swing and Mel Mara tracing back to her on the maternal line.
A good young trotter, but needing a bit of time to fully come into his own, Scott Protector finished fifth in his career debut as a three-year-old in May 1964, but it didn’t take the colt long to start winning. When the Kriterium, the biggest race for 3-year-olds in Norway, came around he finished third. Next year, he finished second behind Olympic Champion in the Jarlsberg Grand Prix but when Derby time came around in September he won easily. At 5 he was already the dominant aged trotter in Norway and, the few times he crossed the border, also in Sweden.