Race horses for sale

The various trotter breeds

The French Trotter is one of the 4 trotter breeds along with the Orlov (or Orloff) Trotter, the American Trotter called Standardbred, and the Kallblod Trotter.

The Orlov Trotter was named after Earl Orlov of Tchema who ensured its production and breeding since 1777 in his Khrenovoi stud farm, Russia. The foundation sire is said to be Bars I whose parents were an Arabian sire called Smetanka and a Danish mare. Bars I and his descendance were mated with Arabian, Dutch, Danish and English mares. At that time, Throroughbred blood and Arabian blood were also input on several occasions, and the Stud-Book was created in 1865.

The American Trotter, or Standardbred, descends from English Thoroughbred. Thoroughbred sire Messenger is said to be the foundation sire. He descended from Darley Arabian, one of the 3 initial Chefs-de-Race along with Bierley Turk and Godolphin Arabian. Messenger was a stud over many years, siring both trotters and gallop racers with indigenous mares, more particularly Morgans and Canadians. One of Messenger’s sons Mambrino (1806) sired Abdallah I who sired Hambletonian 10, who had a strong inbreeding on Messenger. Hambletonian 10 died in 1876 aged 27 after siring over 1300 trotters. All present time American Trotters trace their bloodline to him. In 1903, trotter Lou Dillon, one of his descendants aged 5, performed 1′13″8 in a 1600 m race (performance to be considered according to the conditions of the time: the equipment was much heavier and the tracks were not as favorable to speed as now.)

In the United States, the first official harness racing events took place in 1818 and the Stud-Book was opened in 1871. In France, several bloodlines originate from male line Hambletonian, with offspring such as Quo Vadis, Kairos and Ogaden from the George Wilkes line. The 2nd half of the 19th century was the golden age of Orlov Trotters, then the American Trotters established themselves as favorites until the early 50.s. French horse-breeding has since produced numerous horses of exquisite quality.

Here’s a short gallery:  Uranie Born to Intermède and Pastourelle in 1920, she long reigned over European harness racing. She won 3 Prix d’Amérique (1926-27-28) and became the first French Harness racing super star. At the stud farm, she also was a major producing mare. Some of her offspring turned out to be Kairos and Ogaden leading sires.

Fandango Saddle-trot champion, Fandango was the only horse of his discipline to step into legend. He won 38 events in a stretch, of which 2 consecutive Prix de Cornulier in 1953 and 1954. At the stud farm, he was an exceptionally prolific sire since his name has gone down in history in the Stud-Book as one of the greatest leading sires.

Gélinotte was born in April 1950 in Croissanville (Calvados, France). Her first horsetrainer failed to understand her. He thus left her in the care of Charlie Mills who took the necessary time to study her without pushing her. So that she would get used to the din of a racetrack, he had loud-speakers installed on her training track, solely playing military marches. Gélinotte went from win to win. When Charlie Mills got ill and had to give up the sulky to another driver she became irritable, faked limp, her coat turned shabby and she lost her appetite. Mills drove her again for the Prix d’Amérique in 1955. As favorites, they took 2nd place behind Fortunato. After that, Gélinotte and Mills walked off with first prize in every event they entered (a total of 54, of which 1956 and 1957 Prix d’Amérique). Consecrated Champion of Europe, she travelled across the Continent and cashed 1 billion centimes. She produced 8 offspring, among which great leading sire Ura. She died foaling in 1970.

Invest in French racehorses and buy a share of a trotter, genetically selected by Didier Barlogis.