International Trot

The International Trot is a harness racing event held in the New York City area that aimed to appeal to a mix of United States and international entrants. The inaugural event was held at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury, New York in 1959, and was held at the track until its closure in 1988. Thereafter, the race moved to Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York. The initial running was held at a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 km), with subsequent races held at a distance of 1.25 miles (2.01 km).

International Trot
LocationYonkers, New York, USA
Race typeHarness race for Standardbred trotters
WebsiteInternational Trot
Race information
Distance1¼ miles
(2011 metres or 10 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt, 1/2 mile oval
TrackYonkers Raceway
Qualification3yo & up
Purse$1,000,000 (2018)

In advance of its third running in 1961, The New York Times described that "There are many harness racing stakes that are older and quite a few that are richer, but there is none, that for glamour, pageantry, excitement and wild wagering matches the Roosevelt International Trot."[1]

Yonkers Raceway announced in 2014 that they would return the International Trot to the racing schedule after a hiatus of almost 20 years.[2] With a purse of $1 million, the 2015 International Trot was won by Papagayo E,[3] giving Norway their first win in the race.

Race history

1959

In 1959, a trotter from France named Jamin was scheduled to run in the inaugural International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway. The track's publicist, Joe Goldstein spread the word that the horse's chances were affected by the loss of over 150 pounds of artichokes that had been impounded, and then misplaced, by the United States Department of Agriculture at Idlewild Airport. Goldstein placed ads in The New York Times and New York Herald Tribune that read "French Trotter Needs Artichokes. Can You Help?", including a phone number of Roosevelt Raceway. Newspapers gave the story extensive play, with locals bring their backyard-grown artichokes to the track and United Airlines flying artichokes in from Watsonville, California, the artichoke capital of America. The horse was energized after eating the artichokes, or so Goldstein said, and went on to win the race in front of a crowd of 45,000.[4] Jamin held on to win in front of a crowd of 48,000 spectators, with the Italian horse Tornese in second by half a length and betting favorite Trader Horn, an American entry, in third, 2¼ lengths out of second. Jamin ran the mile-and-a-half in 3:08.6.[5]

1960

Both first-time champion Jamin and Ruder Konge of Denmark dropped out of the 1960 race.[6] The 9-year old Hairos II, driven by Willem Geersen, went on to win the mile-and-a-quarter second running in a field of seven in a time of 2:34, defeating the Italian horse Crevalcore by a half-length, with the American entry Silver Song, a 9-5 favorite, in third by a half-length behind Crevalcore. The crowd of 54,861 set a record, breaking the prior mark of 50,337 set at the track in August 1957.

1961

Hairos II was unable to defend his title in the 1961 race, after suffering a bowed tendon during a win in a race in The Hague.[7] At the 1961 International Trot, a French horse named Kracovie that had won that year's European circuit was missing a stablemate, either a mountain sheep or a goat, that could not be brought into the United States due to quarantine regulations, and would not eat in the absence of its companion.[8] As described by George Vecsey in the Times, "The entertainer Tina Louise just happened to have a goat in her Manhattan apartment. Wearing a low-cut dress, she and her agent and the goat paid a mission of mercy to Roosevelt."[4] Despite the publicity, and the goat, Kracovie lost the race to Su Mac Lad, with Tie Silk in third. Su Mac Lad, driven by Stanley Dancer, finished in a time of 2:34.4 in driving rain and a sloppy track in front of 28,105 racing fans.[9]

1962

The lightly regarded Canadian horse Tie Silk, who had finished in third the previous year and sixth the year before, won the $50,000 race in front of a crowd of 53,279. Six-year-old Tie Silk, driven by Keith Waples, won in a time of 2:34.2, with favorite and returning winner Su Mac Lad in second and world record holder Porterhouse in third. The betting handle of $2,793,596 set a world record for a harness racing program, breaking the prior record set at the second running of the International Trot.[10]

1963

Su Mac Lad, who had won in 1961 but dropped to second in 1962, returned to win the 1963 running in a seven-horse field, before a crowd of 41,197 of what The New York Times called "screaming harness racing buffs". The Dutch horse Martini II came in second, with returning champion Tie Silk in third. Driven by Stanley Dancer, Su Mac Lad paid bettors $2.90 to win in tying a world record at the 1¼-mile distance with a time of 2:32.6. The 9-to-20 favorite came in a half-length ahead of Martini II who in turn beat Tie Silk by 7.5 lengths. The $25,000 taken home by Su Mac Lad brought his career winnings to $687,549, the most of any pacer or trotter as of that date.[11]

1988

After the demise of Roosevelt Raceway in 1988, the race was relocated to Yonkers Raceway.[12] Mack Lobell won the first Yonkers edition of the race in a track record time of 2:30 4/5.

Locations
  • Roosevelt Raceway (1959-1988)
  • Yonkers Raceway (1988-1993, 1995, 2015-present)

Historical race events

The inaugural race of 1959 was run at a distance of 1 1/2 miles after which it was set at its current 1 1/4 miles.

In 1983, France's Ideal du Gazeau became the only horse to ever win the International Trot three times. [13]

Lutin d'Isigny, another French horse, won the 1984 race in a then World Record time of 2:31 flat. His winning margin of 7 lengths was the largest in the 26-year history of the event.[14]

On October 25, 2014, Yonkers Raceway ran the International Trot Preview, a precursor to the return of the International Trot in 2015. The race was won by Natural Herbie for owner/trainer/driver Verlin Yoder.[15]

Wins by country

After 39 runnings of the International Trot the winners have come from 8 different countries.[16]

  • United States: 15
  • France: 13
  • Sweden: 3
  • Canada: 3
  • Italy: 2
  • Denmark: 1
  • Netherlands: 1
  • Norway: 1

Records
Most wins by a horse
  • 3 – Ideal du Gazeau (1981, 1982, 1983)
Most wins by a driver
  • 3 – Jean-René Gougeon (1968, 1969, 1971)
  • 3 – Eugène Lefèvre (1981, 1982, 1983)
Most wins by a trainer
  • 3 – Jean-René Gougeon (1968, 1969, 1971)
  • 3 – Eugène Lefèvre (1981, 1982, 1983)
Stakes record (1 ¼ miles)
  • 2:30 0/0 – Lutin d'Isigny (1984) at Roosevelt
  • 2:23 4/5 – Resolve (2016) at Yonkers

International Trot winners
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Driver
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
Purse
 Country
2018 Cruzado Dela Noche 6 Brian Sears Marcus Melander Courant Stable 2:24 3/5 $1,000,000
2017 Twister Bi 5 Christoffer Eriksson Jerry Riordan Ciccarelli Pasquale 2:22 1/5 $1,000,000
2016 Resolve 6 Ake Svanstedt Ake Svanstedt Hans Enggren 2:23 4/5 $1,000,000
2015 Papagayo E 5 Ulf Ohlsson Jan K. Waaler Tom Andersen & Claes Sjolin 2:26 0/0 $1,000,000
1996-2014 No Race - No Race No Race No Race 0:00 0/0 000,000 -
1995 His Majesty 5 Stefan Melander Catarina Lundström Annelie Henriksson 2:26 0/0 $300,000
1994 No Race - No Race No Race No Race 0:00 0/0 000,000 -
1993 Giant Force 4 John F. Patterson, Jr. Per Eriksson Spar J Stable (Katz Family) & Theodore Gewertz 2:27 0/0 $500,000
1992 Atas Fighter L. 7 Torbjorn Jansson Torbjorn Jansson Écurie Travhäst 2:31 1/5 $500,000
1991 Peace Corps 5 Stig H. Johansson Stig H. Johansson Stall Pieder (Bjorn Pettersson) 2:28 3/5 $450,000
1990 Reve d'Udon 7 Yves Dreux Bernard Desmontils Bernard Desmontils 2:28 3/5 $450,000
1989 Kit Lobell 4 Berndt O. Lindstedt Jan Johnson Johan Dieden 2:31 1/5 $350,000
1988 Mack Lobell 4 John Campbell Charles Sylvester One More Time Stable (Louis P. Guida), et al. & Fair Winds Farm 2:30 4/5 $200,000
1987 Callit 6 Karl O. Johansson Karl O. Johansson Christfam AB 2:33 4/5 $200,000
1986 Habib 5 Ulf Thoresen Roger Walmann 2:33 0/0 $250,000
1985 Lutin d'Isigny 8 Jean-Paul André Maurice G. Corniere Maurice G. Corniere 2:31 0/0 $250,000
1984 Lutin d'Isigny 7 Jean-Paul André Maurice G. Corniere Maurice G. Corniere 2:30 0/0 $250,000
1983 Ideal du Gazeau 9 Eugène Lefèvre Eugène Lefèvre Pierre-Jean Morin 2:35 2/5 $250,000
1982 Ideal du Gazeau 8 Eugène Lefèvre Eugène Lefèvre Pierre-Jean Morin 2:36 0/0 $250,000
1981 Ideal du Gazeau 7 Eugène Lefèvre Eugène Lefèvre Pierre-Jean Morin 2:32 3/5 $250,000
1980 Classical Way 4 John F. Simpson, Jr. John F. Simpson, Jr. Clarence F. Gaines 2:35 2/5 $250,000
1979 Doublemint 4 Peter Haughton Billy Haughton John Lavezzo 2:38 3/5 $200,000
1978 Cold Comfort 4 Peter Haughton Billy Haughton H.P.H. Stable 2:31 3/5 $200,000
1977 Delfo 8 Sergio Brighenti Sergio Brighenti Enrico Tosonotti 2:34 3/5 $200,000
1976 Equileo 6 Bernard Froger Pierre Désiré Allaire Pierre Désiré Allaire & Alain Delon 2:33 3/5 $200,000
1975 Savoir 7 Del Insko Mel Smorra Allwood Stables (Leonard J. & Helen R. Buck) 2:32 1/5 $200,000
1974 Delmonica Hanover 5 John Chapman Delvin Miller Delvin Miller & W. Arnold Hanger 2:34 4/5 $200,000
1973 Delmonica Hanover 4 John Chapman Delvin Miller Delvin Miller & W. Arnold Hanger 2:34 2/5 $150,000
1972 Speedy Crown 4 Howard Beissinger Howard Beissinger Crown Stable, Inc. (Frank & Thomas Antonacci) 2:35 1/5 $125,000
1971 Une de Mai 7 Jean-René Gougeon Jean-René Gougeon Count Pierre de Montesson 2:34 4/5 $125,000
1970 Fresh Yankee 7 Joe O'Brien Joe O'Brien Duncan A. MacDonald 2:35 1/5 $125,000
1969 Une de Mai 5 Jean-René Gougeon Jean-René Gougeon Count Pierre de Montesson 2:33 2/5 $100,000
1968 Roquepine 7 Jean-René Gougeon Jean-René Gougeon Henri Levesque 2:38 3/5 $100,000
1967 Roquepine 6 Henri Levesque Henri Levesque Henri Levesque 2:43 4/5 $100,000
1966 Armbro Flight 4 Joe O'Brien Joe O'Brien Armstrong Bros. 2:38 3/5 $100,000 [17]
1965 Pluvier III 6 Gunnar Nordin Gunnar Nordin Goesta Valentin 2:36 0/0 $100,000
1964 Speedy Scot 4 Ralph N. Baldwin Ralph N. Baldwin Castleton Farm 2:32 3/5 $50,000
1963 Su Mac Lad 9 Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Irving W. Berkemeyer 2:32 3/5 $50,000
1962 Tie Silk 6 Keith Waples Keith Waples Miron Farms (Adrien & Gerard Miron) 2:34 1/5 $50,000
1961 Su Mac Lad 7 Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Irving W. Berkemeyer 2:34 2/5 $50,000
1960 Hairos II 9 Willem Geersen Willem Geersen Andries Voordouw 2:34 0/0 $50,000
1959 Jamin 6 Jean Riaud Jean Riaud Camille Olry-Roederer 3:08 3/5 $50,000

References
  1. Louis Effrat. "The Big Trot: Quality, Not Quantity; Rich International Is Long on Glamour, Prestige, Betting", The New York Times, July 9, 1961. Accessed February 17, 2009.
  2. Bossert, Jerry (2014-09-19). "International Trot returns to Yonkers Raceway" (Press release). Yonkers, NY. United States Trotting Association. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  3. Bergman, Jay (2015-10-10). "Yonkers: Papagayo E wins $1 Million International Trot". drf.com. Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  4. Goldstein, Richard. "Joe Goldstein, Dogged New York Sports Promoter, Dies at 81", The New York Times, February 15, 2009. Accessed February 15, 2009.
  5. Strauss, Michael. "Favored Trader Horn Third; JAMIN TRIUMPHS BY A HALF-LENGTH", The New York Times, August 2, 1959. Accessed February 17, 2009.
  6. Tuckner, Howard M. "JAMIN DROPS OUT OF INTERNATIONAL; French Trotter Is Injured -- Denmark's Ruder Konge Also Withdrawn", The New York Times, August 8, 1960. Accessed February 17, 2009.
  7. Louis Effrat. "Hairos II Withdrawn From $50,000 International Trot; CHAMPION VICTIM OF BOWED TENDON Hairos II Unable to Defend on July 14 -- Adios Butler 3-5 Pace Choice Tonight", The New York Times, June 30, 1961. Accessed February 17, 2009.
  8. Daley, Robert. "French Trotter Here Sans Brigitte; Kracovie Pal Barred From U.S. as Goat in Sheepish Cloak", The New York Times, June 29, 1961. Accessed February 15, 2009.
  9. Louis Effrat. "KRACOVIE SECOND IN $50,000 TROT; Su Mac Lad of U.S. Victor in International Race -- Tie Silk Takes Third SU MAC LAD WINS BY NOSE IN TROT", The New York Times, July 16, 1961. Accessed February 15, 2009.
  10. Louis Effrat. "53,279 See Su Mac Lad Place 2d in International; TIE SILK TRIUMPHS IN INTERNATIONAL", The New York Times, August 19, 1962. Accessed February 17, 2009.
  11. Louis Effrat. "SU MAC LAD, 9-20, TRIUMPHS IN TROT; Takes $50,000 International and Ties World Record-- Martini II Runner-Up Dutch Horse Last Su Mac Lad Takes International Trot", The New York Times, July 21, 1963. Accessed February 17, 2009.
  12. Razzano, Tiffany. "Lewis "Tootie" Barasch, former publicist of the Roosevelt Raceway and international racehorse consultant, died of congestive heart failure on June 25. He was 90.", Nassau Herald, July 13, 2006. Accessed February 17, 2009.
  13. New York Times July 24, 1983 article titled Third International For Ideal Du Gazeau Retrieved August 29, 2016
  14. http://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/26/sports/international-won-by-lutin-d-isigny.html New York Times August 26, 1984 article titled "International Trot won by Lutin d'Isigny" Retrieved August 27, 2016
  15. Daily Racing Form (DRF) October 25, 2014 article titled "Yonkers: Natural Herbie shows heart in International Trot Preview win" Retrieved August 27, 2016
  16. Standardbred Owners Association (SOA) of New York List of International Trot winners Retrieved October 21, 2016
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlgIH1x-T34
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