Victory Tilly
Encyclopedia
Victory Tilly is a Swedish former racing trotter
by Quick Pay out of Icora Tilly by Fakir du Vivier.
His most prestigious victories include the Swedish Trotting Derby
(Swedish: Svenskt Travderby), Elitloppet
, Nat Ray Trot and Gran Premio della Lotteria. At the end of his career, the gelding
had earned US$5,168,902 (€4,085,814). He was awarded the Swedish Horse of the Year Award in 2000 and 2002.
, Uppsala municipality
, Sweden
. He spent his years as a colt at his breeder's, Stall Tilly. Glen Norman was in charge of the training of the stable's race horses, and, thus, was Victory Tilly's trainer in the horse's early years. During this period, as a two-year-old, Victory Tilly was castrated because of testicle problems. Being gelded, Victory Tilly would in his career be ineligible to enter major French events like Prix d'Amérique
, that are open only for stallions and mares.
, Stockholm
. As the favourite of a race for trotters 3 or 4 years old, he won by a margin of 4 and ½ length. In the debut, as well as in all but one of the other races during the 3-year-old season, Victory Tilly was driven by Torbjörn Jansson. On October 4, Victory Tilly took part in the biggest event for Swedish 3-year-olds, the Swedish Trotting Criterium
(Svenskt Travkriterium), at Solvalla. However, the gelding broke stride and finished 6th, behind among others future star Gidde Palema
. During November and December, the horse won three fairly big races taking the total amount of money earned during the debut season to US$173,278. Out of 13 races, Victory Tilly won 8.
and theophylline
. Victory Tilly's owner and breeder Hans-Gunnar Tillander of Stall Tilly got hugely disappointed by this affair and, as a consequence, opted to sell all his racing horses. Before the sale, in the last race for trainer Norman, Victory Tilly and Torbjörn Jansson, as heavy favourites, failed to win the major 4-year-old race Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal
after being disturbed into galloping.
The new owners, Stall Kalas (English: approximately "Party Stables"), who had paid SEK3,500,000 (ca US$420,000 at the time) for the gelding, engaged Stig H. Johansson
as new trainer of the horse. Victory Tilly made his debut for Johansson on the Elitloppet Day. Together with Torbjörn Jansson, who was hired as a stand-in driver since Johansson was suspended, Victory Tilly won in an impressive manner on the new Swedish record 1:11.8 (km rate, European style of keeping time).
Victory Tilly, along with trainer Johansson in the sulky, won the rest of the races he participated in that year. The biggest win of the year was the victory in the Swedish Trotting Derby
, Svenskt Travderby, the richest and most prestigious event for 4-year-olds in Sweden. From gate one, Victory Tilly and Johansson went to the front, where they remained the entire race. Of the SEK1,300,000 gained through the win, Stall Kalas donated 500,000 to the Swedish Cancer Society (Cancerfonden). Later in the autumn, Victory Tilly won another major race, the Swedish Breeders Crown for 4-year-old stallions and geldings.
16 races at age four meant 14 victories, and Victory Tilly earned US$520,108 during the year.
at their home track Solvalla, Johansson and Victory Tilly faced foreign stars like Italian Varenne
and French Général du Pommeau, the reigning Prix d'Amérique
champion at the time. Victory Tilly and Johansson won their elimination despite starting from post seven. In the subsequent final, just as in the elimination, Victory Tilly went to the front out of the gate. Early on, and for the rest of the race, Général du Pommeau was placed outside in first over. Meanwhile, favourite Varenne galloped shortly. The two horses in the front kept the pace up all through the race and none of the other contenders managed to pose a threat. Victory Tilly defeated his French opponent, and driver/trainer Johansson threw his whip into the air out of joy as the finish line was crossed and many of the 32,000 attending jubilated. Victory Tilly's 1:53.2 (1:10.5 km rate) mark was a new all-age world record for geldings trotting on a five-eighths of a mile track. After the race, Johansson admitted that this possibly was the best race ever by a Swedish trotter and that Victory Tilly was the best trotter he had ever trained or driven.
Other than finishing as runner-up in Årjäng in July, the gelding kept on winning. During the following months, he won major Swedish races like Hugo Åbergs Memorial
at Jägersro
, Jubileumspokalen
at Solvalla
, Sundsvall Open Trot
at Bergsåker and Åby Stora Pris
at Åby
. In total, Victory Tilly won US$1,366,182 and 12 of 14 entered races in 2000. He was awarded the Swedish Horse of the Year Award for his efforts.
The summer of 2001 brought victories in Copenhagen Cup, Jubileumspokalen and Sundsvall Open Trot. In October Victory Tilly competed outside Scandinavia
for the first time, when he won Gran Premio Gaetano Turilli at Tor di Valle
, Rome
. The gelding returned to Italy a few weeks later to win Gran Premio delle Nazioni at San Siro, Milan
. At this occasion, Victory Tilly was accompanied by old acquaintance Torbjörn Jansson, since Stig H. Johansson was unavailable due to vacation.
Nine wins out of 16 during the year brought US$887,929.
Even though they were not certain the gelding would make it in time to race in Breeders Crown
at Meadowlands
, Victory Tilly's connections paid the US$80,000 required to enter the event. Had there been a need of eliminations a week before the final to decrease the number of contestants, the money would have been of no use. Fortunately for the owners, few enough trotters entered the race, and Victory Tilly could compete in the final.
From eighth post position, Stig H. Johansson guided Victory Tilly to the front. Fool's Goal passed the Swedish guest and during the latter part of the race, Victory Tilly was positioned in first over. Fool's Goal won the US$1 million event and Victory Tilly came in fourth, beaten by Plesac and Danish Delight as well.
A week later, on August 3, Victory Tilly avenged the loss. In the $500,000 Nat Ray, he defeated among others Fool's Goal and Plesac. The mark 1:50.4 (1:08.9 km rate) was a new world record, beating Varenne's race record and Pine Chip's time-trial record with seven and six tenths of a second, respectively.
The record was a valid mark for all trotters until Tom Ridge guided by driver Ron Pierce broke it in September 2004 by winning World Trotting Derby in 1:50.2. Victory Tilly's mark is still a valid world record for all-age geldings.
Back in Sweden, Victory Tilly claimed Sundsvall Open Trot at Bergsåker for a third consecutive time. He won Åby Stora Pris and Frances Bulwark's Race at Solvalla before going to Italy to defend his title in Gran Premio delle Nazioni at San Siro, Milan. From the front, Victory Tilly and Johansson had no problems making it back-to-back victories in the event.
During 2002, the trotter entered 16 races, winning 12 of them. Moneywise, it was, by a narrow margin the best year of his career. Victory Tilly earned US$1,382,625 that year. For the second time, he was awarded the Swedish Horse of Year Award.
Shortly after the race, reports came that Victory Tilly had been injured. The horse was taken to a veterinary clinic and a severe damage to his right hind suspensory was diagnosed. Trainer/driver Johansson stated that the healing process would take at least six months, and that there even was a risk Victory Tilly would never return to the tracks.
There was a plan to once again travel over the Atlantic to face North America's top trotters in July and August, but the trip was cancelled, for obvious reasons. A part of the cure to heal Victory Tilly, was to keep him in good shape without stressing his injured leg. This was done by swimming in a lake.
In the abruptely ended racing year of 2003, Victory Tilly won US$448,852 and four races in six attempts.
The eight races of the year meant four wins and US$131,603 in prize money.
When he returned after the latest setback, the gelding did it at Eskilstuna by claiming the easiest victory of his career, according to trainer/driver Johansson. Johansson admitted that Victory Tilly probably never would return to his past heights because of the injurys and age.
November 26, at Kalmar Racetrack, Victory Tilly and Johansson won the veteran driver's 1000th victory in the rikstoto, a weekly series of races in Sweden. Reaching the milestone together with a horse that close to his heart, was "almost too much", as Johansson put it.
In, what turned out to be Victory Tilly's second last competitive year, the gelding earned another US$57,165 in seven races, of which four was won.
interfered with them.
At Östersund, on June 10, Victory Tilly raced for the last time. Guided by Adielsson, he won the event Jämtlands Stora Pris for the fourth time. During the summer, he was once again injured in a hind leg. In October, the gelding still had not shook of his problem. Stig H. Johansson and the owners decided to call it quits. The decision was made official on October 25. On December 30, Victory Tilly was honoured during a ceremony at Solvalla.
During his last year on the tracks, Victory Tilly won three races out of six, which moneywise meant US$201,159 to add to his purse. At the time of his retirement, Victory Tilly had earned US$5,168,902, a sum that made him the richest Swedish trotter ever.
In March 2007, Johansson announced that there were plans to build a Victory Tilly museum at Stora Alby, where guests can come and watch, among other things, the top trotters trophies and blankets, as well as pay Victory Tilly himself a visit.
and finished second in Yonkers Trot
. In 18 years as a breeding stallion, he sired more than 1,350 foals, 1,117 of which were born in Sweden. Victory Tilly, Lass Zefyr (winner of Breeders Crown and Momarken Grand Prix), Atas Fighter L. (winner of Gran Premio delle Nazioni, Finlandia-Ajo
, Prix de France and International Trot
), The Onion (winner of Elitloppet
, Gran Premio della Lotteria and Åby Stora Pris
), Pay Nibs (winner of Campeonato Europeo and St. Michel Race), Lucky Po (winner of the Swedish Trotting Criterium
and Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal
), Born Quick (winner of the Finnish Trotting Criterium, the Finnish Trotting Derby and Finlandia-Ajo), Sacrifice (winner of Drottning Silvias Pokal
) and Pay the Bill (winner of Stochampionatet) are some of the successful trotters Quick Pay sired. He received the title Swedish Elite Stallion and was himself by Star's Pride out of Spry Hanover.
The dam Icora Tilly as well as grand dam Cikora Tilly, third dam Glenna H. and fourth dam Scotch Dot are all considered Elite Mares. Icora Tilly had some success on the tracks (runner-up in the Swedish Trotting Criterium as well as in Gran Premio d'Europa) and as a brood mare, she gave birth to SEK-millionaires Brunton Tilly, Super Tilly and Golden Tilly. The total domination of French horses on Icora Tilly's paternal side, makes Victory Tilly one quarter French, pedigree wise.
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
by Quick Pay out of Icora Tilly by Fakir du Vivier.
His most prestigious victories include the Swedish Trotting Derby
Swedish Trotting Derby
The Swedish Trotting Derby is an annual national Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Jägersro Racetrack in Malmö, Sweden...
(Swedish: Svenskt Travderby), Elitloppet
Elitloppet
Elitloppet or Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp is an annual, invitational Group One harness event that has taken place at Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden since 1952. The competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting...
, Nat Ray Trot and Gran Premio della Lotteria. At the end of his career, the 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...
had earned US$5,168,902 (€4,085,814). He was awarded the Swedish Horse of the Year Award in 2000 and 2002.
Early years
Victory Tilly was born on May 3, 1995, in AlmungeAlmunge
Almunge is a locality situated in Uppsala Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 691 inhabitants in 2005. The narrow-gauge heritage railroad Upsala-Lenna Jernväg has a stop in Almunge....
, Uppsala municipality
Uppsala Municipality
Uppsala Municipality is a municipality in Uppsala County in east central Sweden. Uppsala has a population of 200,032 . Its seat is located in the university city of Uppsala....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He spent his years as a colt at his breeder's, Stall Tilly. Glen Norman was in charge of the training of the stable's race horses, and, thus, was Victory Tilly's trainer in the horse's early years. During this period, as a two-year-old, Victory Tilly was castrated because of testicle problems. Being gelded, Victory Tilly would in his career be ineligible to enter major French events like Prix d'Amérique
Prix d'Amerique
Prix d'Amérique is a harness race held at the Vincennes hippodrome in Paris, France. The race takes place on the last Sunday of January every year, and has been doing so since 1920, with the exception for the years 1940-1941 when it was cancelled due to World War II...
, that are open only for stallions and mares.
1998 - 3 years old
On June 17, 1998, Victory Tilly made his racing debut at SolvallaSolvalla
Solvalla is a horse racing track located in Bromma, Stockholm, Sweden. It was opened in 1927 and is the biggest harness racing venue in the Nordic countries. The last Sunday in May, Solvalla annually hosts Elitloppet, one of trotting's most prestigious international events.-Elitloppet:*...
, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. As the favourite of a race for trotters 3 or 4 years old, he won by a margin of 4 and ½ length. In the debut, as well as in all but one of the other races during the 3-year-old season, Victory Tilly was driven by Torbjörn Jansson. On October 4, Victory Tilly took part in the biggest event for Swedish 3-year-olds, the Swedish Trotting Criterium
Swedish Trotting Criterium
The Swedish Trotting Criterium is an annual national Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Solvalla in Stockholm, Sweden...
(Svenskt Travkriterium), at Solvalla. However, the gelding broke stride and finished 6th, behind among others future star Gidde Palema
Gidde Palema
Gidde Palema is a Swedish breeding stallion and former racing trotter by Alf Palema out of Rosie Palema by Ideal du Gazeau....
. During November and December, the horse won three fairly big races taking the total amount of money earned during the debut season to US$173,278. Out of 13 races, Victory Tilly won 8.
1999 - 4 years old
Victory Tilly continued to win in early 1999. In connection to the third win of the year, at Solvalla on February 24, a routine doping test was made. After the analyze of the sample, it was revealed that it showed traces of the prohibited substances caffeineCaffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
and theophylline
Theophylline
Theophylline, also known as dimethylxanthine, is a methylxanthine drug used in therapy for respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma under a variety of brand names. Because of its numerous side-effects, the drug is now rarely administered for clinical use. As a member of the xanthine family, it...
. Victory Tilly's owner and breeder Hans-Gunnar Tillander of Stall Tilly got hugely disappointed by this affair and, as a consequence, opted to sell all his racing horses. Before the sale, in the last race for trainer Norman, Victory Tilly and Torbjörn Jansson, as heavy favourites, failed to win the major 4-year-old race Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal
Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal
Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal or, in shorter form, Kungapokalen , is an annual international Group One harness event for trotters. It is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. It is a stakes race for 4-year-old stallions and geldings...
after being disturbed into galloping.
The new owners, Stall Kalas (English: approximately "Party Stables"), who had paid SEK3,500,000 (ca US$420,000 at the time) for the gelding, engaged Stig H. Johansson
Stig H. Johansson
Stig Henry Johansson is a Swedish trotting trainer and former driver. He started his career as a professional trainer in 1969, and has during a large part of the career been a dominating force in Swedish trotting. He is, arguably, the greatest in Swedish trotting history. Internationally, he is...
as new trainer of the horse. Victory Tilly made his debut for Johansson on the Elitloppet Day. Together with Torbjörn Jansson, who was hired as a stand-in driver since Johansson was suspended, Victory Tilly won in an impressive manner on the new Swedish record 1:11.8 (km rate, European style of keeping time).
Victory Tilly, along with trainer Johansson in the sulky, won the rest of the races he participated in that year. The biggest win of the year was the victory in the Swedish Trotting Derby
Swedish Trotting Derby
The Swedish Trotting Derby is an annual national Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Jägersro Racetrack in Malmö, Sweden...
, Svenskt Travderby, the richest and most prestigious event for 4-year-olds in Sweden. From gate one, Victory Tilly and Johansson went to the front, where they remained the entire race. Of the SEK1,300,000 gained through the win, Stall Kalas donated 500,000 to the Swedish Cancer Society (Cancerfonden). Later in the autumn, Victory Tilly won another major race, the Swedish Breeders Crown for 4-year-old stallions and geldings.
16 races at age four meant 14 victories, and Victory Tilly earned US$520,108 during the year.
2000 - 5 years old
In the first year competing against the domestic and foreign aged elite, Victory Tilly claimed many of Sweden's major events. Before that, he won Norways biggest race, Oslo Grand Prix on May 14.Success in Elitloppet
Two weeks later, in ElitloppetElitloppet
Elitloppet or Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp is an annual, invitational Group One harness event that has taken place at Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden since 1952. The competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting...
at their home track Solvalla, Johansson and Victory Tilly faced foreign stars like Italian Varenne
Varenne
Varenne is a dark bay former racing trotter by Waikiki Beach out of Ialmaz by Zebu.The italian Varenne is considered the strongest trotter of all time, no other trotter before he got so many important victories and records.Before he started running, in the opinion of several vets, Varenne could...
and French Général du Pommeau, the reigning Prix d'Amérique
Prix d'Amerique
Prix d'Amérique is a harness race held at the Vincennes hippodrome in Paris, France. The race takes place on the last Sunday of January every year, and has been doing so since 1920, with the exception for the years 1940-1941 when it was cancelled due to World War II...
champion at the time. Victory Tilly and Johansson won their elimination despite starting from post seven. In the subsequent final, just as in the elimination, Victory Tilly went to the front out of the gate. Early on, and for the rest of the race, Général du Pommeau was placed outside in first over. Meanwhile, favourite Varenne galloped shortly. The two horses in the front kept the pace up all through the race and none of the other contenders managed to pose a threat. Victory Tilly defeated his French opponent, and driver/trainer Johansson threw his whip into the air out of joy as the finish line was crossed and many of the 32,000 attending jubilated. Victory Tilly's 1:53.2 (1:10.5 km rate) mark was a new all-age world record for geldings trotting on a five-eighths of a mile track. After the race, Johansson admitted that this possibly was the best race ever by a Swedish trotter and that Victory Tilly was the best trotter he had ever trained or driven.
Other than finishing as runner-up in Årjäng in July, the gelding kept on winning. During the following months, he won major Swedish races like Hugo Åbergs Memorial
Hugo Åbergs Memorial
Hugo Åbergs Memorial is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Jägersro Racetrack in Malmö, Sweden. Hugo Åbergs Memorial has taken place since 1970. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$291,000...
at Jägersro
Jägersro
Jägersro is a neighbourhood of Malmö, situated in the Borough of Husie, Malmö Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden....
, Jubileumspokalen
Jubileumspokalen
Jubileumspokalen or Solvallas Jubileumspokal is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Solvalla in Stockholm, Sweden. Jubileumspokalen has taken place since 1977. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$281,000 .-Origin:In 1977, Solvalla's 50th Anniversary was...
at Solvalla
Solvalla
Solvalla is a horse racing track located in Bromma, Stockholm, Sweden. It was opened in 1927 and is the biggest harness racing venue in the Nordic countries. The last Sunday in May, Solvalla annually hosts Elitloppet, one of trotting's most prestigious international events.-Elitloppet:*...
, Sundsvall Open Trot
Sundsvall Open Trot
Sundsvall Open Trot is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Bergsåker Racetrack in Sundsvall, Sweden. Sundsvall Open Trot has taken place since 1996. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$273,000 ....
at Bergsåker and Åby Stora Pris
Åby Stora Pris
Åby Stora Pris is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. Åby Stora Pris has taken place since 1936, the same year Åby Racetrack was opened. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$359,000...
at Åby
Åby Racetrack
Åby Racetrack is a horse racing track located in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden.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....
. In total, Victory Tilly won US$1,366,182 and 12 of 14 entered races in 2000. He was awarded the Swedish Horse of the Year Award for his efforts.
2001 - 6 years old
In May, Victory Tilly and Johansson failed to repeat the previous year's successes in both Oslo Grand Prix and Elitloppet. In Oslo, they finished fourth after a race in the pocket position. In Elitloppet, they ended up third, even though they reached their much preferred front position early. Italian Varenne ran as parker, but had no problem cruising to victory down the stretch.The summer of 2001 brought victories in Copenhagen Cup, Jubileumspokalen and Sundsvall Open Trot. In October Victory Tilly competed outside Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
for the first time, when he won Gran Premio Gaetano Turilli at Tor di Valle
Tor di Valle
Hippodrome of Tor di Valle is an important horse racing venue of the city of Rome. The hippodrome takes its name from the area in which is located and includes a racetrack, a training track and a right track. It is one of the biggest in Europe....
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The gelding returned to Italy a few weeks later to win Gran Premio delle Nazioni at San Siro, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. At this occasion, Victory Tilly was accompanied by old acquaintance Torbjörn Jansson, since Stig H. Johansson was unavailable due to vacation.
Nine wins out of 16 during the year brought US$887,929.
2002 - 7 years old
To compete in his first major event of 2002, Victory Tilly once again travelled to Italy. The major international race at Agnano, Gran Premio della Lotteria, ended with the gelding in third, behind Varenne and Legendary Lover K. After finishing fourth in Elitloppet, three victories in native Sweden followed before Victory Tilly travelled to USA.Breeders Crown
Even though they were not certain the gelding would make it in time to race in Breeders Crown
Breeders Crown
The Breeders Crown is an annual series of Harness races covering each of the sport's twelve traditional categories of age, gait and gender. The series was initiated by the Hambletonian Society, promoters of the Hambletonian Stakes, in 1984 to enhance the Standardbred breeding industry and to...
at Meadowlands
Meadowlands Racetrack
The Meadowlands Racetrack is a horse racing track at the MetLife Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States.The track hosts both thoroughbred racing and harness racing...
, Victory Tilly's connections paid the US$80,000 required to enter the event. Had there been a need of eliminations a week before the final to decrease the number of contestants, the money would have been of no use. Fortunately for the owners, few enough trotters entered the race, and Victory Tilly could compete in the final.
From eighth post position, Stig H. Johansson guided Victory Tilly to the front. Fool's Goal passed the Swedish guest and during the latter part of the race, Victory Tilly was positioned in first over. Fool's Goal won the US$1 million event and Victory Tilly came in fourth, beaten by Plesac and Danish Delight as well.
Nat Ray - world record
A week later, on August 3, Victory Tilly avenged the loss. In the $500,000 Nat Ray, he defeated among others Fool's Goal and Plesac. The mark 1:50.4 (1:08.9 km rate) was a new world record, beating Varenne's race record and Pine Chip's time-trial record with seven and six tenths of a second, respectively.
The record was a valid mark for all trotters until Tom Ridge guided by driver Ron Pierce broke it in September 2004 by winning World Trotting Derby in 1:50.2. Victory Tilly's mark is still a valid world record for all-age geldings.
Back in Sweden, Victory Tilly claimed Sundsvall Open Trot at Bergsåker for a third consecutive time. He won Åby Stora Pris and Frances Bulwark's Race at Solvalla before going to Italy to defend his title in Gran Premio delle Nazioni at San Siro, Milan. From the front, Victory Tilly and Johansson had no problems making it back-to-back victories in the event.
During 2002, the trotter entered 16 races, winning 12 of them. Moneywise, it was, by a narrow margin the best year of his career. Victory Tilly earned US$1,382,625 that year. For the second time, he was awarded the Swedish Horse of Year Award.
2003 - 8 years old
Similar to the previous year, Johansson let Victory Tilly enter a few smaller races in the spring before making a trip to Agnano, Naples, and make a second attempt to claim the prestigious Gran Premio della Lotteria. After a successful fight for the front position with Legendary Lover K., the Swedish gelding could not be caught, and the winner's purse, consisting of US$230,000, was Victory Tilly's.Elitloppet and the injury
Three weeks later, Victory Tilly and his connections were in place at Solvalla Racetrack, Stockholm, to make a fourth effort to win Elitloppet. A win in the elimination meant a good post position in the final. Nevertheless, Swedish From Above claimed the title while Victory Tilly finished second, one length behind.Shortly after the race, reports came that Victory Tilly had been injured. The horse was taken to a veterinary clinic and a severe damage to his right hind suspensory was diagnosed. Trainer/driver Johansson stated that the healing process would take at least six months, and that there even was a risk Victory Tilly would never return to the tracks.
There was a plan to once again travel over the Atlantic to face North America's top trotters in July and August, but the trip was cancelled, for obvious reasons. A part of the cure to heal Victory Tilly, was to keep him in good shape without stressing his injured leg. This was done by swimming in a lake.
In the abruptely ended racing year of 2003, Victory Tilly won US$448,852 and four races in six attempts.
2004 - 9 years old
April 7, Victory Tilly returned to the tracks for a qualifying race. At Åby Racetrack, on April 29, he made his competitive comeback, 11 months after getting injured in Elitloppet. He returned to winning ways immediately and Johansson was happy with Victory Tilly's performance. After losing, as big favourites, at Dannero a couple of weeks later, Elitloppet was ruled out. Victory Tilly claimed Jämtlands Stora Pris and a couple of smaller events, but failed to earn a single krona in the bigger races Sundsvall Open Trot and Åby Stora Pris in August and September. The leg problems recurred, which made Johansson end the campaign.The eight races of the year meant four wins and US$131,603 in prize money.
2005 - 10 years old
Now ten years old, Victory Tilly began the 2005 racing at Mantorp on May 16. Although being a heavy favourite, he finished second. Johansson was, nonetheless, pleased, and spoke about possibly entering Breeders Crown later that year. This was not to be however, since Victory Tilly picked up another injury to his leg. This time, it kept him off the tracks for four months.When he returned after the latest setback, the gelding did it at Eskilstuna by claiming the easiest victory of his career, according to trainer/driver Johansson. Johansson admitted that Victory Tilly probably never would return to his past heights because of the injurys and age.
November 26, at Kalmar Racetrack, Victory Tilly and Johansson won the veteran driver's 1000th victory in the rikstoto, a weekly series of races in Sweden. Reaching the milestone together with a horse that close to his heart, was "almost too much", as Johansson put it.
In, what turned out to be Victory Tilly's second last competitive year, the gelding earned another US$57,165 in seven races, of which four was won.
2006 - 11 years old
Victory Tilly's final year on the tracks started off by entering a couple of smaller domestic races. Johansson then took the gelding to the Forus Racetrack to compete in the major Norwegian event Forus Open. Together with new driver Erik Adielsson (Johansson had quit driving in the end of 2005), the star won in a comfortable way after favourite Steinlager had gone off-stride. Johansson afterwards admitted himself tempted to take part in Elitloppet once more. Four weeks later, Victory Tilly raced in the big one-mile race. However, Adielsson and the gelding had no success in the eliminations, as French Jag de BellouetJag de Bellouet
Jag de Bellouet is a French former racing trotter by Viking's Way out of Vaunoise by Nicos du Vivier....
interfered with them.
At Östersund, on June 10, Victory Tilly raced for the last time. Guided by Adielsson, he won the event Jämtlands Stora Pris for the fourth time. During the summer, he was once again injured in a hind leg. In October, the gelding still had not shook of his problem. Stig H. Johansson and the owners decided to call it quits. The decision was made official on October 25. On December 30, Victory Tilly was honoured during a ceremony at Solvalla.
During his last year on the tracks, Victory Tilly won three races out of six, which moneywise meant US$201,159 to add to his purse. At the time of his retirement, Victory Tilly had earned US$5,168,902, a sum that made him the richest Swedish trotter ever.
Life after racing
When Stig H. Johansson in the summer of 2005 turned 60, Stall Kalas, gave him Victory Tilly once the horse had retired. Thus, since retiring, Victory Tilly has spent his days at Johansson's farm Stora Alby, outside Stockholm.In March 2007, Johansson announced that there were plans to build a Victory Tilly museum at Stora Alby, where guests can come and watch, among other things, the top trotters trophies and blankets, as well as pay Victory Tilly himself a visit.
Pedigree
The paternal half of Victory Tilly's pedigree consists of American horses solely. He was sired by Quick Pay (1973–2000), an American stallion that was exported to Sweden in 1978. During the racing career, Quick Pay claimed Kentucky FuturityKentucky Futurity
The Kentucky Futurity is a stakes race for three-year-old trotters, held annually at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky since 1893. It is part of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters....
and finished second in Yonkers Trot
Yonkers Trot
The Yonkers Trot is a harness race for three-year old trotting standardbreds held at Yonkers Raceway in New York. In 2008, it was the first leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters. In 2009, the order of the events has been changed and Yonkers Trot will be the second leg of the Triple...
. In 18 years as a breeding stallion, he sired more than 1,350 foals, 1,117 of which were born in Sweden. Victory Tilly, Lass Zefyr (winner of Breeders Crown and Momarken Grand Prix), Atas Fighter L. (winner of Gran Premio delle Nazioni, Finlandia-Ajo
Finlandia-Ajo
Finlandia-Ajo is an annual Group One harness event that takes place at Vermo Racetrack in Helsinki, Finland. The competition, which was inaugurated in 1980, is regarded as Finland's biggest trotting event. It is raced over the mile, 1,609 meters...
, Prix de France and International Trot
International Trot
The International Trot was 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....
), The Onion (winner of Elitloppet
Elitloppet
Elitloppet or Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp is an annual, invitational Group One harness event that has taken place at Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden since 1952. The competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting...
, Gran Premio della Lotteria and Åby Stora Pris
Åby Stora Pris
Åby Stora Pris is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. Åby Stora Pris has taken place since 1936, the same year Åby Racetrack was opened. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$359,000...
), Pay Nibs (winner of Campeonato Europeo and St. Michel Race), Lucky Po (winner of the Swedish Trotting Criterium
Swedish Trotting Criterium
The Swedish Trotting Criterium is an annual national Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Solvalla in Stockholm, Sweden...
and Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal
Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal
Konung Gustaf V:s Pokal or, in shorter form, Kungapokalen , is an annual international Group One harness event for trotters. It is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. It is a stakes race for 4-year-old stallions and geldings...
), Born Quick (winner of the Finnish Trotting Criterium, the Finnish Trotting Derby and Finlandia-Ajo), Sacrifice (winner of Drottning Silvias Pokal
Drottning Silvias Pokal
Drottning Silvias Pokal is an annual international Group One harness event for trotters. It is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. It is a stakes race for 4-year-old mares. The purse in the 2009 final was ≈US$273,000 , of which the winner Mystic Lady U.S...
) and Pay the Bill (winner of Stochampionatet) are some of the successful trotters Quick Pay sired. He received the title Swedish Elite Stallion and was himself by Star's Pride out of Spry Hanover.
The dam Icora Tilly as well as grand dam Cikora Tilly, third dam Glenna H. and fourth dam Scotch Dot are all considered Elite Mares. Icora Tilly had some success on the tracks (runner-up in the Swedish Trotting Criterium as well as in Gran Premio d'Europa) and as a brood mare, she gave birth to SEK-millionaires Brunton Tilly, Super Tilly and Golden Tilly. The total domination of French horses on Icora Tilly's paternal side, makes Victory Tilly one quarter French, pedigree wise.