Are you up to speed on the world's best trotting festival? Check out our compilation of facts and figures for Elitloppet!
Fast facts
What is it?
Elitloppet is Sweden's and one of the world's largest and most prestigious trotting races.
Where?
At Solvalla, the largest trotting track in the Nordic region, in northern Stockholm.
When?
May 24-26, 2019.
How to do it?
16 unique teams consisting of horse and driver are divided into two trial races, with the top 4 horses in each race going through to the final. The distance is 1,609 meters, and the start is done with the help of a starting car. The winner of the final is rewarded with SEK 3 million.
What is the reason for this?
To select the best racehorse in the world.
Four things you didn't know
Second largest sporting event
The Elitloppet is one of Sweden's largest events in all categories, and the most publicized sporting event after Vasaloppet. Along with the Prix d'Amerique in France and the Hambletonian in the USA, the Elitloppet is also considered one of the three biggest trotting races in the world.
Rich and populous
The Elitloppet has been run every year since 1952, when the winner was awarded SEK 30,000. In comparison, the winner of this year's edition - the 67th - will receive a whopping SEK 3 million. The highest attendance figure dates back to 1995, when 36,640 people watched the Elitlopp final on site.
Most of the champions...
Stig H Johansson holds several Elitlopp records - he has competed as a driver 28 times, reached 24 finals and won 6 times. He is the second highest money earner in Elitloppet, with SEK 10,759,000. The driver who has earned the most money in Elitloppet is Björn Gopp - 12,575,250 SEK.
...and most horses
Sweden and France are the countries that have supplied by far the most winning horses to the Elitloppet, with 24 and 23 wins respectively. The highest money earner in Elitloppet is Timoko with 7,075,000 SEK, and he is also one of eight horses to win twice. Xanthe, with seven starts, is the most frequent participant over the years.
Elitloppet in figures
1,08,4
The fastest Elitlopp ever, completed by French Bold Eagle and Franck Nivard during one of the 2017 trials.
3
The number of women who have run Elitloppet over the years: Maria Burdova, Helen Ann Johansson and Jennifer Tillman.
17
Number of countries broadcasting live last year's Elitlopp.
21
The total number of spectator seats during this year's Elitlopp - inside the starting car, that is (seven seats in two trials and one final). The possibility to follow the Elitloppet from inside the starting car has only been available for a couple of years.
30,89
The highest winning odds of all time, paid out when Timoko won Elitloppet in 2017.
10 000
At least that many portions of food are expected to be served to seated guests in Solvalla restaurants during the Elitlopp weekend.
SEK 403.5 million
The total turnover of the betting company ATG during the Elitlopp weekend 2018.
Most profitable horses
- Timoko, SEK 7 075 000
- Varenne, SEK 4 825 000
- Torvald Palema, SEK 4,550,000
- Brioni, SEK 3,880,000
- Victory Tilly, SEK 3 650 000
Eight horses have won Elitloppet twice
- Roquepine (1966, 1967)
- Eileen Eden (1968, 1970)
- Timothy T. (1974, 1975)
- Ideal du Gazeau (1980, 1982)
- Mack Lobell (1988, 1990)
- Copiad (1994, 1995)
- Varenne (2001, 2002)
- Timoko (2014, 2017)
From here the victors have come
- Sweden, 24 victories
- France, 23 victories
- Italy, 8 wins
- Germany, 5 wins
- USA, 4 victories
- Norway, 2 wins
- Canada, 1 wins
Horses with most starts in Elitloppet
Seven starters
- Xanthe - 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
Five starters
- Victory Tilly -2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
- Adept - 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963
- Nealy Lobell - 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
- Timoko - 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017
Four starters
- Gidde Palema - 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Scarlet Knight - 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Timoko - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Frances Bulwark - 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956
- Pichta - 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
- Gibs Bulwark - 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
- Madison Avenue - 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
- Tarok - 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
- Grades Singing - 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
- Zoogin - 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
- Frisky Frazer - 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001
Driving friends with more than two victories in Elitloppet
Six victories
- Stig H Johansson
Four victories
- Johannes Frömming
Three victories
- Leopold Verroken
- Örjan Kihlström
- Björn Goop
Coaches with more than two victories in Elitloppet
Six victories
- Stig H Johansson
Three victories
- Johannes Frömming
- Leopold Verroken
Press release from Solvalla May 19, 2019.
Photo: TR Bild
