Reipas
Encyclopedia
Reipas was a successful Finnish trotter
. He was a Finnhorse
gelding
, and the first Finnish horse to earn over one million Marks
in one season.
Reipas was the best earning trotter in Finland through 1958-1960, and his earnings each season exceeded one million Marks, corresponding roughly to EUR 20,000. He was owned and mostly driven by Aapeli Miettinen. Reipas competed in 1952–1965, winning 348 of his approximately 1300 heats. His greatest win count in one season was 62.
Being a gelding, Reipas never had offspring. His statue has been erected in the town centre of his home, Varpaisjärvi
.
, bred by Lauri Ylikoski. He was originally named Poju. Poju was intended to become a working horse, and was accordingly gelded
. Soon afterwards, he was sold to Paavo Kontiainen from Evijärvi for 20,000 Marks, and Kontiainen then sold him in the Kokkola
market. Poju was resold a few times more, always for a higher price, until he was bought by smallholder
Aapeli Miettinen's son Väinö for 38,000 Marks. By then, Poju was three years old, and very thin and weak. The father wondered aloud why Väinö had bothered to bring such a "fur purse" all the way from the city. However, on good pasture, the barely walking Poju's condition soon improved, and Aapeli Miettinen traded him from his son for a five-year-old mare and 10,000 Marks. The now lively gelding was renamed Reipas ("Brisk").
in the autumn of 1953, the talents of the young and unknown gelding were greatly in doubt. However, Reipas won three of his four heats and came second in the fourth. In January 1954 Reipas won all four Kuopio heats he took part in. In July of the same year he set a new track record in Kuopio with his 2:59.2 for a 2 kilometre distance (1:29.6 per kilometre). This record made the six-year-old Reipas the third tähtijuoksija, "Star Runner" in Finland, and along with the stallion Akapeetus, the youngest horse to ever attain this title. The record was set in one of the four heats Reipas took part in during just two days.
The origins of Reipas were the subject of many rumours: he was suspected to be a market horse of unknown pedigree, or even a horse from the spoils of war from Russia. The rumours were cut short when Reipas' lines were investigated and his breeding traced from the start of the purchase chain. His sire turned out to be Murtimo 3642 (by Murto 2306), a racing stallion known for his good offspring, and his dam the never raced Buge 56574 (by Noron-Hessu 3105), whose movement had been reproached as "ineffective" in her studbook evaluation.
Reipas competed for a full season every year, from the ice track heats of January to the end of the season in September, sometimes taking part in four heats in a weekend. He never showed signs of being tired or discouraged. His trot remained fast and clean, and he rarely broke into a gallop. During the twelve years of his racing career Reipas took part in about 1300 heats, winning 348 of them. In his six-year-old season in 1952, he won 62 heats. During his career, Reipas set a number of Finnish records and numerous track records. His personal best was 1:25.4, in a 1609 metre heat, or 1:24.4 calculated per kilometre.
In 1958, Reipas became the first Finnish horse to earn over one million Marks in one season. He broke the limit twice more, in 1959 and 1960. During these years he was the best earning horse in Finland. Reipas' winnings do not include, for instance, the large purses of the Kuninkuusravit
Finnhorse championships, because as a gelding he was not qualified to take part. However, he twice won the Suurmestaruusajo championship, in 1960 and 1930.
In addition to regular racing, Reipas also took part in a few international mixed breed handicap races in 1958, competing against light trotters. In Käpylä, he finished seventh as the best Finnhorse, besting the renowned Russian mare Pichta. In the Moscow international heats, Reipas was fourth at his best.
, and thinking a heat was about to commence, trotted in a circle on his own. Pentti Miettinen, groom to Reipas for 15 years, described him as "extremely ardent, sensitive, and gentle-mouthed".
Reipas lived in Varpaisjärvi until being put down in 1971 at the age of 23. By then the restaurant Reippaantalli, "Reipas' Stable", had already been founded. In 1985, the local branch of Lions Club started planning to have a bronze statue made. The statue was sculpted by Herman joutsen and it was revealed in Varpaisjärvi on March 21st, 1987.
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
. He was a Finnhorse
Finnhorse
The Finnhorse or Finnish Horse is a horse breed with both riding horse and draught horse influences and characteristics, and is the only breed developed fully in Finland...
gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
, and the first Finnish horse to earn over one million Marks
Finnish mark
The Finnish markka was the currency of Finland from 1860 until 28 February 2002, when it ceased to be legal tender. The markka was replaced by the euro , which had been introduced, in cash form, on 1 January 2002....
in one season.
Reipas was the best earning trotter in Finland through 1958-1960, and his earnings each season exceeded one million Marks, corresponding roughly to EUR 20,000. He was owned and mostly driven by Aapeli Miettinen. Reipas competed in 1952–1965, winning 348 of his approximately 1300 heats. His greatest win count in one season was 62.
Being a gelding, Reipas never had offspring. His statue has been erected in the town centre of his home, Varpaisjärvi
Varpaisjärvi
Varpaisjärvi is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated with the municipality of Lapinlahti on January 1, 2011.The municipality was located in the Northern Savonia region. It had a population of 2,899 and covered a land area of . The population density was .The municipality was...
.
Early life
Reipas was foaled in 1948 in KortesjärviKortesjärvi
Kortesjärvi is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Alahärmä and Ylihärmä, to Kauhava on 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 2,275 and covered a land...
, bred by Lauri Ylikoski. He was originally named Poju. Poju was intended to become a working horse, and was accordingly gelded
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
. Soon afterwards, he was sold to Paavo Kontiainen from Evijärvi for 20,000 Marks, and Kontiainen then sold him in the Kokkola
Kokkola
Kokkola is a town and municipality of Finland.The town is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
market. Poju was resold a few times more, always for a higher price, until he was bought by smallholder
Smallholding
A smallholding is a farm of small size.In third world countries, smallholdings are usually farms supporting a single family with a mixture of cash crops and subsistence farming. As a country becomes more affluent and farming practices become more efficient, smallholdings may persist as a legacy of...
Aapeli Miettinen's son Väinö for 38,000 Marks. By then, Poju was three years old, and very thin and weak. The father wondered aloud why Väinö had bothered to bring such a "fur purse" all the way from the city. However, on good pasture, the barely walking Poju's condition soon improved, and Aapeli Miettinen traded him from his son for a five-year-old mare and 10,000 Marks. The now lively gelding was renamed Reipas ("Brisk").
Racing career
Reipas was first raced as a four-year-old in Korpinen, Varpaisjärvi in March 23rd 1952, and won. During his first season he only took part in three heats, and in the beginning of his second season he was still entered in minor, local competitions. When Reipas was enrolled for the highest level heats of KuopioKuopio
Kuopio is a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. A population of makes it the ninth biggest city in the country. The city has a total area of , of which is water and half forest...
in the autumn of 1953, the talents of the young and unknown gelding were greatly in doubt. However, Reipas won three of his four heats and came second in the fourth. In January 1954 Reipas won all four Kuopio heats he took part in. In July of the same year he set a new track record in Kuopio with his 2:59.2 for a 2 kilometre distance (1:29.6 per kilometre). This record made the six-year-old Reipas the third tähtijuoksija, "Star Runner" in Finland, and along with the stallion Akapeetus, the youngest horse to ever attain this title. The record was set in one of the four heats Reipas took part in during just two days.
The origins of Reipas were the subject of many rumours: he was suspected to be a market horse of unknown pedigree, or even a horse from the spoils of war from Russia. The rumours were cut short when Reipas' lines were investigated and his breeding traced from the start of the purchase chain. His sire turned out to be Murtimo 3642 (by Murto 2306), a racing stallion known for his good offspring, and his dam the never raced Buge 56574 (by Noron-Hessu 3105), whose movement had been reproached as "ineffective" in her studbook evaluation.
Reipas competed for a full season every year, from the ice track heats of January to the end of the season in September, sometimes taking part in four heats in a weekend. He never showed signs of being tired or discouraged. His trot remained fast and clean, and he rarely broke into a gallop. During the twelve years of his racing career Reipas took part in about 1300 heats, winning 348 of them. In his six-year-old season in 1952, he won 62 heats. During his career, Reipas set a number of Finnish records and numerous track records. His personal best was 1:25.4, in a 1609 metre heat, or 1:24.4 calculated per kilometre.
In 1958, Reipas became the first Finnish horse to earn over one million Marks in one season. He broke the limit twice more, in 1959 and 1960. During these years he was the best earning horse in Finland. Reipas' winnings do not include, for instance, the large purses of the Kuninkuusravit
Kuninkuusravit
The Kuninkuusravit championship is an annual championship harness racing contest in Finland. It is the official Finnish national championship contest for Finnhorse stallions and mares. It has been held annually since 1924, except during the war times of 1934-1937, 1940–1942, and 1944...
Finnhorse championships, because as a gelding he was not qualified to take part. However, he twice won the Suurmestaruusajo championship, in 1960 and 1930.
In addition to regular racing, Reipas also took part in a few international mixed breed handicap races in 1958, competing against light trotters. In Käpylä, he finished seventh as the best Finnhorse, besting the renowned Russian mare Pichta. In the Moscow international heats, Reipas was fourth at his best.
Retirement
After a career of thirteen years, Reipas' last season was in 1965. By April he had won four times and his season's best time was 1:33.4. Aapeli Miettinen kept Reipas after his active career ended, and turned down many offers to buy him. One of the best known offers, five trotters and a horse transport car, was made by Kalle Hagert, known as the "Gypsy King" to his contemporaries. Even after having retired, Reipas remained brisk, true to his name, and at the age of 20 years still brought home winnings from a race. Turned out on pasture, he once heard a neighbour playing the accordionAccordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, and thinking a heat was about to commence, trotted in a circle on his own. Pentti Miettinen, groom to Reipas for 15 years, described him as "extremely ardent, sensitive, and gentle-mouthed".
Reipas lived in Varpaisjärvi until being put down in 1971 at the age of 23. By then the restaurant Reippaantalli, "Reipas' Stable", had already been founded. In 1985, the local branch of Lions Club started planning to have a bronze statue made. The statue was sculpted by Herman joutsen and it was revealed in Varpaisjärvi on March 21st, 1987.