Gran Premio Lotteria


Gran Premio Lotteria, or Gran Premio della Lotteria, or in short, Lotteria, is an annual Group One harness event that takes place at Agnano Racetrack in Naples, Italy. The competition, which was inaugurated in 1951, is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting. The winner is decided through three qualifying heats and a subsequent final later the same day. Both the eliminations and the final are raced over 1,600 meters. Gran Premio Lotteria is part of the European Grand Circuit and the overall purse for the 2009 event was €600,600, equalling approximately US$795,000. The fastest winning time in the history of the race is 1:10.8, run by Varenne in 2002.

Racing conditions

The races

Gran Premio Lotteria is decided through three elimination heats, followed by a final. The first three trotters of each elimination progress to the final, which is run later the same day. There is also a consolations race for the competitors that do not succeed in qualifying for the final.

Distance and starting method

The distance was, during the first seven years, 1,700 meters. This was shortened to 1,680 meters in 1959. In 1976 the distance was further decreased, to today's 1,600 meters. With the exceptions of 1951, 1952 and 1956, the race have always been started by the use of auto start.

The 2009 Lotteria

The starting list (the final)

  1. Algiers Hall - Roberto Vecchione
  2. Opal Viking - Björn Goop
  3. Oiseau de Feux - Jean-Michel Bazire
  4. Island Effe - Pietro Gubellini
  5. Jodas Julia - Dominiek Locqueneux
  6. Ghibellino - Roberto Andreghetti
  7. Idalgo Jet - Pasquale Esposito J:r
  8. Classic Grand Cru - Thomas Uhrberg
  9. Ismos Fp - Enrico Bellei
Swedish stallion Opal Viking, trained by Nils Enqvist and driven by Björn Goop, was betting favourite, followed by Oiseau de Feux, Algiers Hall and Ghibellino.

The race

Algiers Hall went to the front and driver Roberto Vecchione chose to keep the lead when favourite Opal Viking announced an interest to take it over. Oiseau de Feux followed as third and the pace was very slow. In the stretch, Island Effe and Ghibellino came from behind to claim the first and second place, respectively. Oiseau de Feux overtook Opal Viking to reach third, while the Swedish favourite finished fourth.
Island Effe became the first Italian mare to win the event. The winning time for the Italian 5-year-old mare after Lemon Dra, was 1:57.1 /1:12.9. The winner's purse was US$275,000.

Past winners

Horses with most wins

Auto start

YearHorseDriverTrainerWinning horse's native countryWinning time
2012Mack Grace SmRoberto AndreghettiLucio Colletti1:11.8
2011Libeccio GrifMarco SmorgonMarco Smorgon1:12.8
2010ItalianoGaetano Di NardoEnrico Bellei1:11.3
2009Island EffePietro GubelliniEdoardo Gubellini1:12.9
2008Gambling BiJean-Michel BazireFabrice Souloy1:11.3
2007Exploit CafJean-Michel BazireFabrice Souloy1:12.0
2006Malabar Circle ÅsAndrea GuzzinatiJerry Riordan1:12.1
2005Digger CrownStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson1:13.0
2004Legendary Lover K.Enrico BelleiGunnar Christiansen1:12.5
2003Victory TillyStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson1:12.7
2002VarenneGiampaolo MinucciJori Turja1:10.8
2001VarenneGiampaolo MinucciJori Turja1:12.6
2000VarenneGiampaolo MinucciJori Turja1:12.4
1999Remington CrownJoseph VerbeeckJan Kruithof1:11.1
1998Kramer BoyJohnny TakterJohnny Takter1:14.1
1997Wesgate CrownEnrico BelleiRaz Mackenzie1:12.4
1996Crowning ClassicMauro BaronciniMauro Baroncini1:12.4
1995Ina ScotHelen A. JohanssonKjell P. Dahlström1:13.1
1994Uconn DonAndrea BaveresiAndrea Baveresi1:13.7
1993Embassy LobellWim PaalWim Paal1:12.8
1992Bravur SundMauro BaronciniMauro Baroncini1:12.7
1991Peace CorpsStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson1:14.0
1990Evann C.Björn LindblomBjörn Lindblom1:12.9
1989HollyhurstLorenzo BaldiLorenzo Baldi1:13.2
1988Grades SingingOlle GoopOlle Goop1:12.8
1987Limbo JoeVittorio GuzzinatiVittorio Guzzinati1:13.9
1986Classy RogueWilliam CasoliWilliam Casoli1:14.8
1985Evita BrolineBerndt LindstedtBerndt Lindstedt1:13.9
1984The OnionStig H. JohanssonStig H. Johansson1:14.1
1983Keystone PatriotVeijo HeiskanenAntti Savolainen1:15.6
1982Our Dream of MiteEduardo GubelliniEduardo Gubellini1:14.7
1981Contingent FeeMario RivaraMario Rivara1:16.2
1980Hillion BrillouardPhilippe AllairePhilippe Allaire1:13.8
1979The Last HurrahVivaldo BaldiVivaldo Baldi1:14.9
1978The Last HurrahVivaldo BaldiVivaldo Baldi1:14.5
1977Wayne EdenAnselmo FontanesiAnselmo Fontanesi1:14.7
1976Bellino IIJean-Rene GougeonJean-Rene Gougeon1:15.2
1975DimitriaLeopold VerrokenLeopold Verroken1:16.1
1974Top HanoverGerhard KrügerGerhard Krüger1:17.7
1973Lightning LarryEduardo GubelliniEduardo Gubellini1:16.5
1972AmyotLouis SauvéLouis Sauvé1:16.8
1971Une de MaiJean-Rene GougeonJean-Rene Gougeon1:16.7
1970Une de MaiJean-Rene GougeonJean-Rene Gougeon1:16.6
1969Une de MaiJean-Rene GougeonJean-Rene Gougeon1:16.6
1968Eileen EdenJohannes FrömmingJohannes Frömming1:16.5
1967RoquepineJean-Rene GougeonHenri Levesque1:16.4
1966Cheer HoneyGerhard KrügerGerhard Krüger1:16.7
1965ElmaJohannes FrömmingJonel Chyriacos1:16.5
1964Hurst HanoverGiancarlo BaldiGiancarlo Baldi1:16.7
1963BehaveSergio BrighentiSergio Brighenti1:16.4
1962TorneseSergio BrighentiSergio Brighenti1:16.8
1961KracovieRoger VercruysseRoger Vercruysse1:17.0
1960NievoUgo BottoniUgo Bottoni1:17.5
1959Icare IVWalter BaronciniWalter Baroncini1:16.7
1958TorneseSergio BrighentiSergio Brighenti1:17.9
1957TorneseMario SantiSergio Brighenti1:18.5
1956GelinotteCharlie MillsCharlie Mills1:17.8
1955BirboneVivaldo BaldiVivaldo Baldi1:18.6
1954Saint ClairOduardo BaldiOduardo Baldi1:19.4
1953BirboneVivaldo BaldiVivaldo Baldi1:18.5
1952BirboneVivaldo BaldiVivaldo Baldi1:18.6
1951BayardUgo BottoniUgo Bottoni1:20.3