European Spring Stakes

Quote from Lonnie on March 17, 2026, 7:40 PM

At different distances, how are mile rates calculated?

Quote from NiekH on March 18, 2026, 10:01 AM

I usually use a table I got out of an Italian auction catalogue a few years ago, see the attached file. In this case 1600 is basically a mile, 1600m is like 29 feet short of a mile. But if you want to calculate the mile rate, you take the km, lets say 1.12.3, which is 72.3 seconds. You then divide that by 1000, and multiply that by 1609.34. That gives you 116.36 seconds. Or 1:56.36, then in North America you do fifths instead of decimals, so ,36 seconds is rounded up 2/5ths so 1.12.3 is a mile rate of 1:56.2.

In Europe you use a Km time, because we race on different distances, so it is already a rated time. So to convert it you use a mile rate as well. You can calculate the full time as well if you care to do so. 

Quote from Bgtolex25 on March 18, 2026, 11:34 AM

Thx.  The math challenged heads exploded.  🤣

Quote from Lonnie on March 20, 2026, 8:31 PM

Quote from NiekH on March 18, 2026, 10:01 AM

I usually use a table I got out of an Italian auction catalogue a few years ago, see the attached file. In this case 1600 is basically a mile, 1600m is like 29 feet short of a mile. But if you want to calculate the mile rate, you take the km, lets say 1.12.3, which is 72.3 seconds. You then divide that by 1000, and multiply that by 1609.34. That gives you 116.36 seconds. Or 1:56.36, then in North America you do fifths instead of decimals, so ,36 seconds is rounded up 2/5ths so 1.12.3 is a mile rate of 1:56.2.

In Europe you use a Km time, because we race on different distances, so it is already a rated time. So to convert it you use a mile rate as well. You can calculate the full time as well if you care to do so. 

Thank you

Quote from NiekH on April 3, 2026, 6:20 PM

Due to Good Friday, I haven't gotten the most time to write an article. So I shall quote the article by Karsten Bønsdorf of the USTA.

"Although Saturday’s Prix Kerjacques at Vincennes is “only” a Group II event, it may well be the strongest field assembled in Europe in several months — possibly even including the entire winter meeting with the Prix d’Amérique.

The Prix Kerjacques is open to geldings, which sets the stage for a showdown between the top French horses such as two-time Prix d’Amérique winner Idao de Tillard, this year’s Prix d’Amérique winner Hokkaido Jiel, and the Prix de France–winning mare Iroise de la Noe, challenged by top geldings like Inexess Bleu — winner last year of the UET Elite Circuit Final and the Belgian Group 1 Prix de Wallonie — and Ino du Lupin, most recently victorious in the Group III Prix du Bois de Vincennes.

In addition, the field includes horses such as Josh Power, runner up in this year’s Prix d’Amérique; Hooker Berry, another Prix d’Amérique winner; and the consistently successful Italian Cobra Killer Gar.

The race is contested over 2,700 meters with a standing start — the same distance and start format as the Prix d’Amérique — and carries a total purse of €120,000.

The race will be run at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time and can be watched live at www.letrot.com.
Back in Action in Europe

From Europe, it is also worth noting that the now 5-year-old mare Allegiant (sired by Tactical Landing) returned to racing for the first time since last July and did so in impressive fashion at Färjestad, where she won with Örjan Kihlström in a mile rate of 1:55.1.

This was only Allegiant’s fourth start since being sold to Sweden last year. In 2024, she raced three times and won, among other victories, the 4 -ear-Old-Mare Elite race at Solvalla in a mile rate of 1:51.3 on Elitlopp Day. She is trained by Daniel Redén."

In other news during Allegiant's meet there was also the Prins Carl Philips Jubileumspokal. In this race US horse Keep Asking won in a 1:53.0 mile rate. Notable for us was 3rd place finisher Loxahatchee, the 5 year old half brother to History Hanover. The winner received close to $32,000 in prize money.

Quote from NiekH on April 6, 2026, 5:00 AM

Three winners of the Prix d’Amérique were in action last Saturday in the Prix Kerjacques at Vincennes. On paper it looked like a clash between some of the biggest names in French trotting. The outcome told a different story.

In French racing, the very best horses rarely meet in the major winter stakes. The reason is simple: geldings are excluded from the France's biggest Group 1 stakes, including the Prix d’Amérique, the Prix de France and the Prix de Paris. Because of that rule, part of the elite is often missing when those races are run.

The Prix Kerjacques tends to change that dynamic. The race is open to geldings as well as stallions and mares, which occasionally produces a line-up that brings together horses who normally never share the same field.

This year’s edition over 2700m (1 11/16 mi) delivered exactly that scenario. The winners of the last four editions of the Prix d’Amérique were present, joined by the most recent winner of the Prix de France.

Despite that star-studded group, the race ultimately belonged to the geldings. Among them was Inexess Bleu, a horse frequently described as the best gelding in the world, and recent invitee to the Elitloppet. He won the Prix Kerjacques under wraps in a winning time of 1.12.3 or a mile rate of 1:56.2. Second was another gelding, by the name of Ino Du Lupin. Ino was recently also the winner of the Prix Du Bois de Vincennes (Gr. 3) on March 21st. Third was for Prix de France winning mare Iroise De La Noe.

Another notable in this field was Idao De Tillard, the two time Prix d'Amerique winner, who is coming back from an injury that caused him to miss the entire winter meet at Vincennes. Early in March he came back at Caen where he spent the entire race in the back of the field, to sprint home to a 7th placed finish.

In the Prix Kerjacques he had the exact same game plan. Something we see French trainers use more often, to race them into shape. He came home in a last quarter of 27.2 making him the fastest closing horse in the field together with Hooker Berry (Another Prix d'Amerique winner).

The race replay can be found here:

https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-04-04/7500/4

Quote from NiekH on April 6, 2026, 6:34 AM

Today on the second day of Easter, we move the spotlight to Italy. A day of three stakes are on the program in Turin.

First on the card is in race 3 the Derby Dei 4 Anni - Femmine. Or the Italian 4 year old Derby Oaks. This Gruppo 1 stake is over 2060m, or roughly 1 1/4 mi, and has a purse of over $230,000. The winning mare takes home a little over $82,000.

The elimination winners were Giovaz, Gloria Italia and Glamour Queen. Giovaz was the 2yo Italian champion filly winning the Gruppo 1 Gran Premio Allevatori Femmmine. She struggled as a 3yo, breaking stride 4 out of 5 starts in 2025. She came back at 4 with a 4th place effort before winning the elimination in a dominant time. Gloria Italia also won her elimination. Her best effort came last year when she was second in the Gruppo 1 Oaks Del Trotto (The 3yo Derby Oaks). Last but not least was elimination winner Glamour Queen. The elimination on March 21st was her first start back after her 3rd place finish last year in the Gruppo 1 Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli. A heat stake for 3yo's open to all nationalities and genders. Finishing third behind the boys which include champion Ginostrabliggi ($831,000) was very impressive.

Two races later the boys are up for the Gruppo 1 Derby Dei 4 Anni - Maschi. Same as the fillies they go over 2060m (1 1/4 mi) and go for $230,000 with the winner taking home around $82,000. Only 2 eliminations were held for this race, with Giotto EK and Guglielmo Jet taking the victories. Giotto EK is best known for his second place finish in the Gruppo 1 Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli and his 4th place finish in the Derby Italiano Del Trotto. The biggest 3yo stake in Italy with close to $925,000 in purse. For Guglielmo Jet we do not really look at Italy, where his biggest win was the Gruppo 1 Gran Permio Marangoni, but to France. During the 2025-2026 Meeting d'Hiver (Winter Meeting) at Vincennes he showed some impressive results with a 2nd place in the Group 1 Prix Ready Cash behind French champion Mack De Blary, a win in the Group 2 Prix Charles Tiercelin beating Mack. And to cap his winter off he took another 2nd place in Group 1 stake Prix Ourasi behind Maestro Vrie. A string of 3 strong races that netted him a cool $200,000 in earnings from 3 starts.

And last but by far not least, we go to race 7. The Gran Premio Costa Azzurra! A stake for aged trotters over basically the mile, 1600m. For me personally I am sure we will see an invite to the Elitloppet as a result of this race. With over $250,000 on the line we have many interesting horses lining up today. 

The very first I would like to discuss is French champion Jabalpur. One of my personal favourites and one I would very much like to see in the Elitloppet. Jabalpur is a son of Booster Winner and best known for setting the track record at Vincennes. Last June he posted a time of 1.08.7 over 2100m (1 5/16 mi) in the Group 1 Prix Rene Balliere. This is a mile rate of 1:50.3. Other wins include the Gruppo 1 Gran Permio Della Nazioni where he beat Inexess Bleu among others and the Group 2 Gran Prix Du Departement Des Alpes. That is a mile stake in Cagnes-Sur-Mer where he posted a 1:51.4 winning time. 

Another runner is the recent winner of the Gran Premio Duomo, Danny Capar. In the field we also see Always EK, brother to Diva EK and Executiv EK. Who has raced in the Elitloppet eliminations last year and has many stake wins to go with his earnings over a million dollars. Most notably in heat stakes like the Gran Premio Lotteria and the Sweden Cup elimination, 2nd in the final (The B-Elitloppet on the Saturday).

Inmarosa is also among the starters, this French mare is mostly known for the longer distances with wins in the Harpers Hanover Lopp on Elitloppet day over 3180m (almost 2 mi) and the Prix Du Bourbonnais over 2850m (1 3/4 mi). Her lifetime mark however is 1:50.0 when she ran 4th behind Vernissage Grif (1:49.3) in the 2024 Grand Criterium De Vitesse De La Cote d'Azur. 

All in all field full of stake winners.