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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).

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."

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

The International Trot was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to travel restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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. 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.

1960

Both first-time champion Jamin and Ruder Konge of Denmark dropped out of the 1960 race. 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. 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. 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." 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.

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.

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.

1988

After the demise of Roosevelt Raceway in 1988, the race was relocated to Yonkers Raceway. 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.

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.

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.

Wins by country

The winners of the International Trot have come from 8 different countries.

• United States: 15
• France: 13
• Sweden: 3
• Canada: 3
• Italy: 3
• Norway: 2
• Denmark: 1
• Netherlands: 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
• 2:22 1/5 – Twister Bi (2017) at Yonkers

International Trot winners

Year	Winner	Age	Driver	Trainer	Owner	Time	Purse	Country	Ref
2022	Cokstile	9	Vincenzo Dell’Annunziata	Mattia Orlando	Scuderia Santese SRL	2:23	$1,000,000
2020-2021	No Race
2019	Zacon Gio	4	Roberto Vecchione	Holger Ehlert	Franco Giuseppe	2:24 1/5	$1,000,000
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
1995	His Majesty	5	Stefan Melander	Catarina Lundström	Annelie Henriksson	2:26 0/0	$300,000
1994	No Race
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
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

External links

• YouTube video of Jamin winning the 1959 inaugural International Trot

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. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. 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. "Yonkers moves series to November; International Trot canceled". harnessracing.com. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
5. ^ Goldstein, Richard. "Joe Goldstein, Dogged New York Sports Promoter, Dies at 81", The New York Times, February 15, 2009. Accessed February 15, 2009.
6. Strauss, Michael. "Favored Trader Horn Third; JAMIN TRIUMPHS BY A HALF-LENGTH", The New York Times, August 2, 1959. Accessed February 17, 2009.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. New York Times July 24, 1983 article titled Third International For Ideal Du Gazeau Retrieved August 29, 2016
15. 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
16. Daily Racing Form (DRF) October 25, 2014 article titled "Yonkers: Natural Herbie shows heart in International Trot Preview win" Retrieved August 27, 2016
17. "Yonkers: Cokstile upsets in $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot". Daily Racing Form. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
18. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: International Trot 1966 -Armbro Flight. YouTube.

• Harness races in the United States
• Horse races in New York (state)
• Recurring events established in 1959
• 1959 establishments in New York (state)
• Sports in Yonkers, New York