A trotting horse from Freelton, in northeast Hamilton, is one of only 16 horses in the world that are invited to run in one of the most prestigious international races for trotting horses.

Perfetto, the two-time defending O’Brien Award winner for older trotting, has been invited to represent Canada in the Elite Race.

The elite race can be translated to “Elite race” and is considered the crown jewel in Swedish harness sports.

The race takes place as part of a three-day festival May 27-29 in Stockholm at Solvalla Racetrack.

Perfetto and Dagfin Henriksen, his coach and driver, will compete in the race on May 29.

– It is an honor to be invited to the Elite Race, said Henriksen, who has played trotting since he was 19 years old.

“Every coach, especially in Europe, dreams of even getting to the race,” he said. “If you have a horse that is good enough to go in that race, it’s something special.”

Henriksen said that there is a lot of excitement about the big race, especially as a native of Norway.

“It’s so big, so I try not to think too much about it because you almost get emotional,” said Henriksen.

The elite race will take back a fully international field for 2022, where the world’s best trotters will compete in front of 50,000 spectators.

It will be the biggest race that Perfetto and Henriksen have ever competed in.

“Everyone I know who’s gone says it’s one of the most amazing sporting events they’ve ever been to,” said Sandra Snyder, senior manager of horse improvement programs and management at Ontario Racing.

“The way Solvalla Racetrack sets up the show I guess is pretty amazing.”

Henriksen has been to the Elite Race on one occasion, as a spectator in 2005. A horse from his native Norway, Steinlager, won that year. Seventeen years later, he said he would love to represent both his homeland and Canada.

“I would imagine it is a particularly great honor for Dagfin, because it is close to home because he is abroad,” said Snyder, “and he has also been invited to the Oslo Grand Prix, so it’s really nice too.”

Snyder said that she gets shivers just thinking that Perfetto and Henriksen are on their way to the Elite Race.
“Just the fact that one of our own has been invited – we all cheer on him,” she said.

Snyder said it is “hugely influential” for the Ontario Sire Stakes program, and for Ontario Racing in general, to be reflected and seen on the world stage.

“Having the kind of superior trotter that Perfetto has become requires a tremendous amount of horsepower,” said Snyder.

Perfetto has earned almost three quarters of a million dollars and he has done it mostly only in regular races, which is really nice, she said.

“He has not won any flashy efforts. He is like every man’s horse,” she said.

Although the horses from Ontario have a good track record when it comes to competing in the Elite Race, Snyder said that there is not always a Canadian horse represented there.

“I think that’s the second reason it’s such an honor to be invited to an event like the Elite Race,” she said, “because you are competing against not only the best horses, but also the best trainers and riders who exists in the world. “

The elite race is the world’s richest race for trotting horses

Gerald Haggerty is Perfetto’s owner and works closely with Henriksen – they met Henriksen for the first time when he took a horse from him for $ 1,500.

After 30 years in the belt racing industry, Haggerty says he has full confidence in his coach.

“Dagfin has a bit of magic in his hands. I think he’s the best trotting man in Canada and his methods are different from some Canadian or American coaches,” said Haggerty.

“He has been around for a long time and has been around some amazing horses. He has a lot of experience.”

Henriksen has been trotting for 24 years and first started as a 19-year-old in Norway. He moved to Canada in 2008.

Haggerty could rely on Henriksen’s years of experience when the trainer said he would remove Perfetto’s jumps – a type of harness that helps a horse stay in step.

Henriksen said that this move was the key to Perfetto receiving an Elite Race invitation. Although Haggerty was initially skeptical of the decision, it paid off.

The elite race selection committee for the race will not invite horses that use them as they are not allowed in the historic event.

Dagfin called me and said: “I’ll take off the jumps.” I thought he was crazy, [Perfetto] had competed with the jumpers all his life, Haggerty said.

“Well, he took off the jumpers and Perfetto went and won next week just as flat as a tire. That’s when I knew he would be better than okay.”

Although many young horses compete with the jumpers as Perfetto did, Henriksen said he took them off because he did not need the extra weight or equipment.

“Even if he does not win it, it is still very influential for the stallions standing here, the breeders who breed horses and even the other owners and trainers,” said Snyder.

“Even if they would also like to be invited, I know that every single one of them will pull for Perfetto and Dagfin that day.”

Perfetto began his journey to Europe last Thursday, first traveled down to the United States and then flew on Wednesday with another reliable coach. Henriksen left home shortly after on Monday with his family.

As the world’s richest race for trotting horses, the total exchange for the Elite Race is 11,350,000 Swedish kronor, which is 1.6 million Canadian dollars, between the trials and the finals.