Windsong Stable Travel and Events
Hambletonian 2025:
In a departure from my previous blogs that report on travel outside the US, this blog will review my great week hosting French friends for Hambletonian #100 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. Christian Le Barbey is the extremely busy owner of International Trot Services in France. Christian is involved in the management of over a dozen syndicated French stallions, both trotters and Thoroughbreds. He provides extensive assistance to horse owners as an agent and consultant, and is an officer of a trotting racetrack in Normandy. Christian has been indispensable in my purchase of three wonderful French trotting mares that I imported to the US for breeding.
Christian was accompanied by our friend Christophe...
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Sweden 2025:
This year, Stockholm hosted the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships during the same week as the 2025 Elitloppet, Scandinavia's biggest trotting race. How could I resist? My good friend and frequent European travel companion Henrikki Halme of Finland accompanied me to both events. I stayed in downtown Stockholm at the Scandic Klara Hotel, not far from the T-Centralen train station and the central shopping areas. Scandic hotels are good values, as their moderate pricing is based on small but clean and comfortable rooms, ideal for travelers with busy daily schedules. The Klara was located...
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France 2025:
Even in typically cold, damp, and drizzly January weather, a trip to Paris for the Prix d'Amerique should be on the short list for anyone who loves harness racing. The Prix d'Amerique is inarguably the world's greatest and most challenging trotting race. I was again fortunate to be included in a large contingent of Norwegian trotting fans for the weekend's racing events. I stayed in the Courtyard by Marriott Gare de Lyon, which is conveniently located near train and Metro stations. Our driver Erik Samuelsen expertly chauffeured us around Paris and Vincennes in a large three-row van. We started our holiday with... Continue Reading
Finland 2022:
This is currently my only "Event Blog" that does not focus on harness racing. In May 2022, the IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships were held in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland. My fellow ice hockey and harness racing enthusiast Henrikki Halme invited me to stay at his classic sprawling Finnish farmhouse in Nummela, about 45 minutes outside Helsinki, so that we could attend the tournament. My trip lasted 17 days, most of which were spent at all-day hockey marathons. Henrikki occasionally uses his home as an "event venue", hosting visiting groups for meals and meetings. His farm house has been featured in several Finnish movies and TV shows. I previously shared several photos of his home in my "Finland 2012" blog.
Finland, Sweden, and the USA were positioned in hockey Group B, which played games at the Nokia Arena in Tampere. Tampere is about a 2 hour drive... Continue Reading
Hungary 2020:
After a great trip to Paris for the Prix d'Amerique, I continued my travel to Budapest after receiving an invitation to give a presentation to Hungarian trotting enthusiasts. My host, Karoj Kotun of the Hungarian Breeders Association, arranged for my lodging at the Hotel Victoria along the "Buda" side of the Danube River (the city is divided into "Buda" and "Pest" portions by the Danube, and historically had been separate cities). Upon my arrival Karoj was my host at a local restaurant for a hearty dinner, including excellent Hungarian red wine. Hungary has a long and proud tradition as a producer of top quality wines. We discussed the history of Hungarian trotting stallions. To my surprise, I discovered that my father had owned and personally driven Optician... Continue Reading
Germany 2018:
In 2018, I returned to Berlin with Dale Welk, Operations Manager of Standardbred Horse Sales Company, to enjoy the racing again at Trabrennbahn Mariendorf and to consult for Derby-Auktion officials with suggestions about how to improve the customer experience at their yearling auction.
The 2018 German Trotting Derby hosted yet another victory for trainer Paul Hagoort and driver Robin Bakker, who previously won the Derby in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Their winning horse was (#4) Mister F. Daag, who set a new race record of 1.12.3 (km rate). Mister F Daag is a son of American sire Conway Hall, out of... Continue Reading
France 2017:
As North American trotters have grown increasingly inbred, I have concluded that we would benefit from "outcrossing" our mares to European stallions. Hanover Shoe Farms has taken a great step forward by offering World Champion Sebastian K 1:49f ($2,973,252) to US breeders. Ready Cash is undoubtedly the #1 trotting sire in Europe. His sons are completely dominating racing in France, led by the great Bold Eagle. I visited France to see Bold Eagle win the Prix d'Amerique, and to tour a number of stallion farms... Continue Reading
Germany 2018:
In 2016, Hanover Shoe Farms and Standardbred Horse Sales Company became major sponsors of an interesting new European trotting series, the Super Cup Trot. The concept was to hold eliminations in four different countries (Germany, Sweden, Austria, and the Netherlands) to qualify for a big Final at Trabrennbahn Mariendorf racetrack in Berlin, Germany on the same weekend as the German Trotting Derby. Entries were restricted as to earnings, in order to prevent a competitive advantage for Swedish horses that regularly race for significantly higher purses. The races and sponsorships were promoted by my friends Sebastian Behrens, assistant to track owner Ulrich Mommert; and Swedish trainer Jorgen Sjunnesson. .. Continue Reading
Finland 2012:
Unlike its more mountainous neighbors, Finland is a relatively flat country covered with endless birch forests and lakes. Henrikki Halme was my generous host and guide for a tour of Helsinki, lodging at his scenic farm, and teaching me about Finnish Coldblood trotters while attending their championship races in Mikkeli.
Helsinki is a small and very congenial city with wide boulevards, open squares, and colorful Russian-influenced architecture that clearly resembles that of St. Petersburg. The close if often difficult relationship between Finland and Russia is demonstrated by the proximity of... Continue Reading
Sweden 2008:
Because of the success of Windsong Stable horses in Sweden during the 2008 racing season, I decided to visit Sweden to experience one of the truly great racing events in the world of trotting: The Elitlopp. Harness racing runs rich in the blood of Scandanavians. Billboards advertising the Elitlopp are everywhere in Stockholm. You can discuss the race with immigration officials when you arrive at the airport, and with cab drivers as you ride to your hotel. Everyone knows about the race, and everyone has his favorite horse. The Elitlopp is truly the "Super Bowl" of Sweden... Continue Reading
Hambletonian 2004:
Windsong's Legacy (Conway Hall - Yankee Windsong) joined a very select and honored group in harness racing by winning the $1,000,000 Hambletonian today at the Meadowlands. Driven perfectly by his trainer, Trond Smedshammer, Windsong's Legacy proved that greatness belongs to him. From Post 7, Windsong's Legacy followed in 7th position behind Cash Hall from the gate, racing outside for the entire mile. A major traffic problem was averted when longshot Lantern's Law went offstride in the backstretch, leaving Cash Hall the reluctant first-over. Windsong's Legacy remained covered, second over, until the top of the stretch, when Smedshammer tipped him three wide past a tiring... Continue Reading
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