This weekend, 2010 O'Brien Award winner Randy Waples will set aside his trademark blue and gold silks to don his country's red and white colours for an international driving competition in France
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Société du Cheval Français, the organization in charge of harness racing in France, has put together the second edition of the International Meeting of the French Trotter. On Saturday, December 3 at Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes, the "Prix des Rencontres Internationales du Trotteur Français" will feature 14 drivers from 14 different countries. Last year Belgium's Gerard Vergaerde won, with Canada's Scott Zeron finishing second.
A rematch of sorts from this year's Breeders Crown will pit Waples, making his European debut, against France's Eric Raffin. Those two drivers fought tooth and nail in the 2011 Breeders Crown Open Trot, with Waples and San Pail holding off a valiant Rapide Lebel with Raffin aboard.
Vergaerde will attempt to repeat in the Prix des Rencontres Internationales du Trotteur Français, a race featuring trotters racing over 2,100 metres. The full list of drivers is as follows, in alphabetical order of country.
Belgium : Gérard Vergaerde, 61 years old - 3,258 wins
Canada : Randy Waples, 46 years old - 5,552 wins
Czech Republic : Jiri Svoboda, 50 years old - 96 wins
France : Eric Raffin, 30 years old - 1486 wins
Germany : Roland Hülskath, 36 years old - 2,808 wins
Hungary : Csaba Lakatos, 47 years old - 491 wins
Lithuania : Vaidas Rimsas, 33 years old - 117 wins
Malta : Noël Baldacchino, 40 years old - 480 wins
Netherlands : Robin Bakker, 28 years old - 432 wins
Norway : Hans Petter Tholfsen, 55 years old - 3,964 wins
Russia : Vladimir Pupko, 54 years old - 860 wins
Spain : Miguel Mestre Sunyer, 24 years old - 280 wins
Switzerland : Marc André Bovay, 43 years old - 215 wins
Ukraine : Pavlo Mitskevich, 33 years old - 129 wins
All the best Randy.... you
All the best Randy.... you are not only representing Canada but introducing the Racing World to the proud name of 'Waples'....... dad must be as proud as we are after what he has done for the Industry too and to see his son carry on that proud legacy...... Go get 'em!
Good Luck Randy Pail''s
Good Luck Randy Pail''s Posse will be cheering for you!!
Couldn't think of a better
Couldn't think of a better or more entertaining ambassador. Best of luck Randy.
Super, but can he drive a
Super, but can he drive a trotting horse? (haha) Best of Luck Randy! Show'em how its done.
Howard Portelance