Åby Stora Pris


Åby Stora Pris is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. Åby Stora Pris has taken place since 1936, the same year Åby Racetrack was opened. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$359,000. Åby Stora Pris is part of the European Grand Circuit.

Racing conditions

Through the years, the conditions of the event have varied. Before 2005, the winner was decided through a single race. This one race had since 1978 been of 2,140 meters. As from 2005, when the setup was changed, the same eight horses have been racing each other in two 1,640 meter-heats. These heats are followed by a race-off of 1,640 meters, if necessary, i.e. if the two heats are won by different horses.
With the exception of 1981, a motorized starting gate has been used to launch the race since 1979.
In 1978, when the distance was decreased to 2,140 meters, another shift was made as well. Date wise, the event had been held in May or June until then. After the change in 1978, it has been held in September, apart from the years 1990-92 when the race was in August.
The event is invitational, meaning only invited horses can participate. To come in contention for invitations, a horse must be of age four or above.

Past winners

Horses with most wins

Frances Bulwark is the only mare that have won the event herself in addition to having bred a winner, the stallion Frances Nibs, who won in 1964. Frances Nibs has also sired a winner, the champion of 1977, Micko Tilly. Thus this line represents winners in three generations.

All winners of Åby Stora Pris

YearHorseDriverCountry of ownerOdds of winnerWinning timeDistance in meters
2013Sebastian K.Jorma Kontio1:11.51,640
2012Sebastian K.Åke Svanstedt1,640
2011Rapide LebelEric Raffin1,640
2010Lisa AmericaTorbjörn Jansson1,640
2009Torvald PalemaÅke Svanstedt1,640
2008Garland KronosLutfi Kolgjini2.941:13.11,640
2007Giant SupermanFredrik B. Larsson2.141:13.51,640
2006Red Chili PiratÖrjan Kihlström7.01/5.821:11.3/1:11.61,640
2005Gidde PalemaÅke Svanstedt1.411:13.31,640
2004SteinlagerPer Oleg Midfjeld7.141:13.52,140
2003Gidde PalemaÅke Svanstedt2.201:12.12,140
2002Victory TillyStig H. Johansson1.281:13.52,140
2001Etain RoyalJorma Kontio10.161:13.12,140
2000Victory TillyStig H. Johansson1.591:13.32,140
1999Général du PommeauJules Lepennetier1.471:14.42,140
1998Rite On LineAtle Hamre9.331:14.32,140
1997Gentle StarGunleif Tollefsen2.611:15.02,140
1996ZooginÅke Svanstedt2.011:14.32,140
1995ZooginÅke Svanstedt4.811:13.62,140
1994Houston LaukkoJorma Kontio38.611:13.82,140
1993Queen L.Stig H. Johansson3.331:13.22,140
1992Sea CoveJoseph Verbeeck15.321:14.52,140
1991Prince MysticAtle Hamre10.541:14.02,140
1990Reve d'UdonYves Dreux2.571:14.02,140
1989QuellouPierre Levesque8.431:14.92,140
1988OurasiJean-René Gougeon1.731:14.52,140
1987Jet RibbHans G. Eriksson8.211:14.82,140
1986Utah BulwarkStig H. Johansson1.371:14.32,140
1985Minou du DonjonOlle Goop1.371:15.42,140
1984The OnionStig H. Johansson3.801:14.82,140
1983LegolasThomas Nilsson13.211:14.62,140
1982Idéal du GazeauEugène Lefèvre2.201:15.62,140
1981Idéal du GazeauEugène Lefèvre1.611:18.42,140
1980Express GaxeGunnar Axelryd2.961:15.02,140
1979Hadol du VivierJean-René Gougeon2.221:15.52,140
1978Charme AsserdalHeikki Korpi8.721:16.92,140
1977Micko TillyOlle Lindqvist9.041:16.32,640
1976Dines P.Michel Feuillet11.741:18.92,620
1975Race cancelled
1974KnabeOlle Goop5.921:18.62,600
1973Bill D.André L. Dreux2.681:17.82,620
1972LyonOlle Elfstrand1.861:21.32,600
1971Harper ArrowLennart Stjernlöf2.861:21.02,600
1970LyonOlle Elfstrand1.661.20,42,600
1969FairlandUno Swed9.661:21.22,600
1968PulemjotStig H. Nilsson13.301:19.82,600
1967Lill MavilSvenning Eriksson6.841:24.02,600
1966OrlofAlgot Scott9.771:19.92,600
1965Pluvier IIIGunnar Nordin3.481:19.82,620
1964Frances NibsOlle Andersson7.361:21.32,620
1963Oscar R.L.Henri Levesque2.071:20.42,620
1962AprilsnarKaj Hansen48.631:23.02,600
1961KracovieRaoul Vercruysse1.751:19.02,620
1960Hairos IIWillem H. Geersen1.901:18.62,640
1959Icare IVWalter Baroncini3.331:19.32,640
1958Io d'AmourEddie Freundt2.821:20.42,620
1957GelinotteCharlie Mills1.411:20.22,640
1956GelinotteCharlie Mills-1:20.02,640
1955EjadonJohannes Frömming7.001:18.92,640
1954Mac KinleyWillem H. Geersen4.761:21.52,600
1953Scotch ThistleVicenti Ossani9.751:21.72,660
1952Iran ScottCarl A. Schoug5.911:22.82,640
1951Iran ScottCarl A. Schoug8.811:22.22,620
1950Frances BulwarkSören Nordin4.991:22.32,600
1949Scotch FezSören Nordin2.291:22.42,620
1948LocomotiveGunnar Nordin4.041:21.82,420
1947OptimistGösta Nordin2.961,23,72,380
1946JustusSören Nordin1.631:23.42,180
1945Dieter AsaStig Karlsson7.371:23.62,200
1944ExklusivGösta Nordin3.571:23.82,180
1943VolburnGösta Nordin2.751:22.92,180
1942TrumpsRagnar Thorngren4.711:23.32,180
1941Big NoonGösta Nordin1.751:21.92,180
1940CraftsmanOscar Persson2.561:22.02,220
1939Harper HanoverOscar Persson1.791:21.02,240
1938EscapeRagnar Thorngren1.591:21.92,200
1937True HanoverRagnar Thorngren2.811:25.12,200
1936Guy Montgomery P.Paul P. Nielsen2.321:28.62,200