Solvalla Explained

Solvalla
Website:http://www.solvalla.se/
Location:Bromma, Stockholm, Sweden
Opened:1927
Racetype:Harness
Notableraces:Elitloppet, Swedish Trotting Criterium, Swedish Trotting Oaks, Jubileumspokalen
Coordinates:59.3675°N 17.9397°W

Solvalla is a horse racing track located in Bromma, Stockholm, Sweden.[1] It opened in 1927 and is the largest harness racing venue in the Nordic countries.[2] [3] The last Sunday in May, Solvalla annually hosts Elitloppet, one of the most prestigious international trotting events in the world.[4] [5]

Major events

Elitloppet

Elitloppet is always in the last Sunday in may. During the same weekend there are also the Group II races Sweden Cup and the stayer race Harper Hanovers Race, as well as Elitkampen for coldblood trotters.

Swedish Trotting Criterium

Swedish Trotting Oaks

Jubileumspokalen

Scandinavian Touring Cars

See main article: Solvalla Stockholm. Since 2012 the venue has been used as a motor racing venue and hosts a round of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship.

Driver champions

Since the track's opening in 1927, there have been only 14 different driver champions at Solvalla. From 1934 until 1976, one of the three Nordin brothers won every year, with the exception of 1949 and 1975. Oldest brother Gösta won ten times, as did middle brother Gunnar. Youngest brother Sören Nordin was track champion 21 times. Their father Ernst J. Nordin was champion 1928 and 1929. After the dominance of the Nordins, Stig H. Johansson took over and claimed the champion title no less than 29 times between 1975 and 2005, his last year as a driver. 27 these titles were consecutive, from 1979 to 2005. Jorma Kontio is the reigning driver champion.[16]

Driver champions ranked by number of titles[16]

RankDriverNumber of titlesYears
1 29 1975, 1977, 1979–2005
2 21 1942, 1944–1946, 1948, 1954, 1956–1959, 1961, 1963–1964, 1966, 1969–1974, 1976
3 Gunnar Nordin 10 1947, 1950–1951, 1953, 1955, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1967–1968
Gösta Nordin 10 1934–1941, 1943, 1952
5 Sixten Lundgren 3 1931–1933
3 2007–2009
7 Ernst J. Nordin 2 1928–1929
Erik Adielsson 2 2006, 2011
2 2012, 2013
10 Alfred Johansson 1 1927
Carl A. Schoug 1 1930
Erik Larsson 1 1949
1 1978
1 2010

Most wins in one year

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Här finns vi. solvalla.se. Swedish. 2009-03-31. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090228175732/http://www.solvalla.se/travbana/karta-solvalla.asp. 2009-02-28.
  2. Web site: Solvallas historia. solvalla.se. Swedish. 2009-03-31. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090222120143/http://www.solvalla.se/travbana/historia.asp. 2009-02-22.
  3. Web site: Besök Solvalla. solvalla.se. Swedish. 2009-03-31. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090412060001/http://www.solvalla.se/travbana/besoka-solvalla.asp. 2009-04-12.
  4. Web site: Fransk smygare vann Elitloppet. Berg . Leif. 2007-05-27. dn.se. Dagens Nyheter. Swedish. 2009-03-31.
  5. Web site: 'Elitlopp' most prestigious race in the World. Kentell. Mark. 2008-05-24. harnesslink.com. 2009-03-31.
  6. Web site: Grupplöpningar 2009. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. 2009-03-31.
  7. Web site: Travsport - Resultat. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. 2009-06-05.
  8. Web site: Resultat - Elitloppet, försök 1. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. 2009-06-05.
  9. In the conversion to USD, the rates of 2009-05-31, the date of the 2009 Elitloppet, have been used.
  10. Web site: 120 treåringar jagar plats i Kriteriet och Oaks. Lindberg. Johan. travsidan.nu. Swedish. 2009-03-31.
  11. Web site: Resultat - Svenskt Travkriterium 2008. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. 2009-03-31.
  12. In the conversion to USD, the rates of 2008-10-05, the date of the 2008 final, have been used.
  13. Web site: Resultat - Svenskt Trav-Oaks 2008. travsport.se. STC. Swedish. 2009-03-31.
  14. Web site: Resultat - Jublieumspokalen . travsport.se. STC. Swedish. 2009-03-31.
  15. In the conversion to USD, the rates of 2008-08-09, the date of the 2008 race, have been used.
  16. Web site: Solvalla champions genom tiderna. solvalla.se. Swedish. 2014-07-13. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714172950/http://www.solvalla.se/trav/solvallachampions.asp. 2014-07-14.