Åby Racetrack Explained

57.6504°N 12.001°W

Horse Race Track
Åby Racetrack
Location	Mölndal, Sweden
Year opened	1936
Race type	Standardbred – Harness racing
Record attendance	17,401 (at Olympiatravet, April 18, 2009)^[1]
Driver champion	Åke Svanstedt (93 wins at Åby in 2008)^[2]
Trainer champion	Åke Svanstedt (SEK9,731,566 won at Åby in 2008)
Website	www.abytravet.se
Principal Races
Olympiatravet
Åby Stora Pris
Drottning Silvias Pokal

Åby Racetrack (Swedish: Åbytravet) is a horse racing track located in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden.^[3]

Åby was opened in 1936 as a track for harness racing as well as thoroughbred racing. Since October 1976, the track has been dedicated to harness racing solely.^[4]

Åby is the second biggest track for harness racing in Sweden.^[5] The length of the track is 1,000 meters.

Major events

Olympiatravet

• International Group I race.
• Setup (2009): Final race of 2,140 meters. Finalists had either qualified in one of four specific elimination races in the month before the final or been rewarded a wild card. The title holder was guaranteed a place in the final as well.^[6]
• Date (2009): April 18 (the final).
• Purse (2009, the final only): US$462,772 (SEK 2,750,000), which made it the second biggest race in Sweden.^[7]
• Titleholder: Triton Sund (driven by Örjan Kihlström), winner in 2009.^[7]

Åby Stora Pris

• International Group I race.^[8]
• Setup (2008): Eight horses race two heats of 1,640 meters. These heats are followed by a race-off, also of 1,640 meters, if necessary, i.e. if the two heats are won by different horses.^[9]
• Date (2008): September 20.^[8]
• Purse (2008): US$359,451 (SEK 2,400,000).^[8]
• Titleholder: Garland Kronos (driven by Lutfi Kolgjini), winner in 2008.^[10]

Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal

• International Group I stakes race for four-year-old stallions and geldings.^[11]
• Setup (2009): Three elimination races from which the first four horses progressed to the final 14 days later. Final race of 2,140 meters.^{[12] [13]}
• Date (2009): May 14 (the final).^[11]
• Purse (2009, the final only): ≈US$273,000 (€200,000).^[11]
• Titleholder: Knockout Rose (driven by Erik Adielsson), winner in 2009.^[11]

Drottning Silvias Pokal

• International Group I stakes race for four-year-old mares.^[14]
• Setup (2009): Four elimination races and final 14 days later. Final race of 2,140 meters.^{[13] [15]}
• Date (2009): May 14 (the final).^[14]
• Purse (2009, the final only): ≈US$273,000 (€200,000).^[14]
• Titleholder: Mystic Lady U.S. (driven by Robert Bergh), winner in 2009.^[14]

External links

• Venue information

Notes and References

1. Web site: Triton Sund vann Olympiatravet – och den olympiska rörelsen fick 10,4 miljoner kronor . April 18, 2009. newsdesk.se. ATG. Swedish. April 21, 2009.
2. Web site: Svanstedt: "Jag är oskyldigt utpekad". Berglund. Cege. January 13, 2009. gp.se. Göteborgs-Posten. Swedish. April 22, 2009.
3. Web site: Åbytravet – In English. abytravet.com. February 20, 2009.
4. Web site: Göteborgs Galoppsällskaps historia. goteborggalopp.se. Swedish. February 20, 2009.
5. Web site: Åbytravet – Om Åby. abytravet.se. Swedish. February 20, 2009.
6. Web site: Dags för Olympiatravet – första delfinalen på lördag. March 16, 2009. newsdesk.se. ATG. Swedish. April 21, 2009.
7. Web site: Travsport.se – Resultat – Olympiatravet 2009 . travsport.se. STC. April 19, 2009.
8. Web site: Travsport.se – Resultat – Åby Stora Pris. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. February 20, 2009.
9. Web site: Svanstedt mot ny seger i Åby Stora. PDF. Johansson. Ola. September 15, 2008. travsidan.se. Swedish. February 20, 2009.
10. Web site: Åby Stora Pris 2009. abytravet.se. Swedish. February 20, 2009.
11. Web site: Resultat – Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. May 17, 2009.
12. Web site: Kungapokalen: Så gick det i loppen. Ersson. Erik. Olsson. April 30, 2009. travnet.se. Travnet. Swedish. May 17, 2009.
13. Web site: Pokalloppen lottade. Källberg. Martin. April 30, 2009. travronden.se. Swedish. June 10, 2009.
14. Web site: Resultat – Drottning Silvias Pokal. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. May 19, 2009.
15. Web site: Drottningpokalen: Så gick det i loppen. Ersson. Erik. Olsson. April 30, 2009. travnet.se. Swedish. May 19, 2009.