European Trotting Derby


The European Trotting Derby, also called UET Grand Prix and Grand Prix de l'UET, is an annual Group One harness event that is arranged by the European Trotting Union, UET. The final takes place on a racetrack in one of the member countries of UET. The event is open for 4-year-old European-born trotters and was first raced in 1985. The 2009 final will be hosted by Tampere Racetrack, Finland, and has a purse of approximately US$607,000, or €460,000.

Racing conditions

The races

To qualify for the European Trotting Derby final, horses must progress from the qualifying races. These races takes place on two racetracks in two countries every year, in 2009 at Vincennes, France and Tampere, Finland.

Distance and starting method

The distance has most years been 2,100 meters. Some years, a slight variation has been made, but the distance has always been in the interval 2,000-2,140 meters. The race has always been started by the use of auto start.

Past winners

Drivers with most wins

YearHorseDriverTrainerWinning horse's native countryOdds of winnerWinning time
2008Qualita BourbonJoseph VerbeeckJean Baudron1.511:13.2
2007Virgill BokoHugo Langeweg J:rHugo Langeweg3.341:14.0
2006Oiseau de FeuxChristian BigeonFabrice Souloy1:14.1
2005Conny NobellBjörn GoopBjörn Goop1.731:12.9
2004Daguet RapidePietro GubelliniJean-Pierre Dubois1.651:14.2
2003NagloÖrjan KihlströmStefan Hultman4.291:13.0
2002Kiss MelodyDominique LocqueneuxPierre Desiré Allaire2.631:11.7
2001Abano AsStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson1.901:12.7
2000Com KaratDominique LocqueneuxJan Kruithof2.401:14.6
1999Himo JosselynJean-Michel BazireJean-Michel Bazire2.901:14.9
1998Giant CatNicolas RousselNicolas Roussel5.071:15.7
1997General NovemberPekka KorpiVeijo Kivijoja3.001:13.2
1996ElisionJean-Pierre VielAlbert Viel2.621:15.7
1995Derby du GiteHeinz WeweringSylvain Leliévre10.011:14.5
1994Progress ValueLennart ForsgrenKari Lähdekorpi22.001:15.1
1993Ina ScotKjell P. DahlströmKjell P. Dahlström1.201:14.6
1992Jexpress DahliaJorma KontioJukka-Pekka Kauhanen1.911:15.2
1991Market LeaderLeif WitaspLeif Witasp11.301:15.8
1990Ultra DucalPaul VielPaul Viel4.011:15.4
1989TipoufPierre VercruyssePierre Vercruysse2.601:17.5
1988Atas RocketStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson4.371:16.6
1987RangoneJean-Pierre DuboisJean-Pierre Dubois2.801:14.7
1986Clash HammeringStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson3.131:15.4
1985Mack the KnifeStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson2.201:16.6