VARENNE:
THE “ITALIAN
MARVEL”
HORSE

Italy’s Varenne, the world’s
highest prizemoney winning
standardbred and somewhat of
a national legend, retired to
stud after a farewell
appearance in the 2002 Trot
Mondial de Montreal in late
September.

Ranked Italy’s “second most popular
personality” (after Pope John Paul II!)
in an Italian survey, Varenne has
been a publicist’s dream — his
outstanding record making him
popular enough to have his own
Internet site, merchandise a song and
involvement in an advertising
campaign.

Such is the aura that surrounds
Varenne that a unique press release
was distributed prior to the running of
the Trot Mondial de Montreal (in
which he unfortunately finished
second, before being relegated to last
for not completing the entire course):

My name is Varenne.

I was born in France, seven years
ago, but it is really in Italy where I
lived as a champion. Indeed, I was
eighteen months old when I was
“adopted”, pretty much on a whim, by
a lawyer from Napoli, Enzo Giordano.
I think he has had a decent return on
his investment: today, my hide is
worth some 10 million U.S. dollars!

No less than 16 people take care of
me on a daily basis, and follow me
round the world. Among them is my
own “designated driver” (Drive
Gianpaulo Minucci), my personal
trainer (Jori Turja), my groom (Lina
Rastas, a real mama for me), my
masseur, my two blacksmiths, my
psychologist, my nutritionist, my
manager, my sponsor and my
publicist. There are days, I feel like a
light brown Formula One race car.
It all really started in 1998, when I
took part in my very first racing
season. Despite my tender age

(barely three years old), I won all six
races I entered. Some ascribed my
performances to beginners’ luck, but
others saw a future winner and
started to believe in me. That was
true of SNAI, which bought a stake in
half of me. I was never told if it was
the front or rear half
- but now I had two owners, and the
world to conquer.

When I turned five years old, I began
running — or rather trotting — with
the big boys. That year, despite a
victory at Napoli’s Lottery Grand Prix
(the most prestigious race in Italy),
my performances went up and down.
But the next year, in 2001, is when I
really came into my own, meeting the
high expectations of my entourage
and winning all the top honours: the
Prix d’Amérique in Paris, the Elitlop in
Sweden, the Lottery Grand Prix, the
Trot Mondial in Montreal and the
Breeders Crown in New Jersey. In the
latter, I even broke a world speed
record. Back in Italy, I had become a
star and my life was never quite the
Varenne in action.

same thereafter. I was treated to a
big victory parade in the streets of
Rome, and I was presented to an
audience of 80 000 people in Rome’s
Olympic Stadium during the World’s
Track & Field Championship. A song
and a site web were created in my
honour, my name was displayed on
caps and T-shirts. I had become a
celebrity!

But it did not take my mind away from
focusing on competition. Because, in
2002, I won all the races I have taken
part in. So far anyway. Let’s just hope
the 2002 Trot Mondial de Montréal
will not be the exception, for this
event has a special significance for
me. Like megastar Moni Maker in
2000, I have opted to give my last
performance in the world of trot in
Montreal. “Why so early?”, you may
ask. Because I am still at my peak:
record holder for top career earnings
(US $6 million so far), unbeaten in
over a year, what I have got left to
prove on the tracks? No, the time has
truly come to move on and begin a
new career in reproduction!

As a result, the 2002 Trot Mondial de
Montréal is set to be a big event, for
the Montreal public, for my fans
around the world, as well as for my
owners, my sponsors and my
opponents. The latter, the 1 3/8 mile
race will be their last chance to
compete alongside me, may be even
finish ahead of me. Fan Idole from
France, my main rival, will be there.
So is Fools Goal and Plesac from the
United States, Lyell Creek from New
Zealand, and a few others.

Moreover, now that the Montreal race
is homologated by World Cup Trot,
the financial stakes are considerable:
I could improve my bank balance by
another one million euros by winning
the bonus awarded to the horse who
would win all five competitions on the
World Cup circuit!