Eight-year old French gelding, Ble du Gers driven by Jos. Verbeeck was an easy winner of the classic Dutch Prijs der Giganten at Victoria Park in Wolvega.

Ble du Gers was the winner of the Prijs der Giganten at Victoria Park in Wolvega. Gerard Forni Photo.

In the past, the one-mile Prijs der Giganten was a very important race on the European calendar at the track in Hilversum that was once the biggest racetrack in that country.

That track was closed for more than 25 years, but then Victoria Park took over and now the Prijs der Giganten is raced over 1-5/16 miles with a purse of $66,000.

This year, the organizers succeeded in putting an international field together with participants from France, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands.

Italien-bred, but Franch-trained Violetto Jet with Franck Nivard was the favorite, but went off stride.

Generaal Bianco with Johan Untersteiner was in command most of the trip, but couldn’t hold off Ble du Gers with Jos. Verbeeck, who went on to win in a very easy in 1.57.1f (mile rate) followed by Generaal Bianco and International Trot-contender Norton Commander with Conrad Lugauer.

The winner is trained by Jean Michel Bazire and picked up a check for $32,000 dollars.

International Trot Norwegian trotter, Lionel with Göran Antonsen also raced, but finished out of the money.