Nivard sidelined, Goop to drive Bold Eagle
November 18, 2017,by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent
An important driver change for Sunday’s (Nov. 19) Grand Prix de Bretagne at Vincennes has just been announced, as Franck Nivard, the regular driver of French top trotter Bold Eagle, has been injured and will not drive tomorrow. The drive behind Bold Eagle has been handed to top Swedish driver Björn Goop.
Franck Nivard was involved in an accident at Vincennes Friday night (Nov. 17) and was brought to the hospital. He has hurt his back and doctors have sidelined him to drive in races until Sunday (Nov. 26).
Goop will be the fourth driver to ever be in the sulky behind Bold Eagle. Jean Etienne Dubois, Eric Raffin and Franck Nivard are the others pilots who have steered the trotter and all have won races with the French triple crown winner.
- Bold Eagle scratched from Grand Prix de Bretagne (Sunday, November 19, 2017)
After two warm-ups prior to the Grand Prix de Bretagne on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 19) at Vincennes in Paris, France, French Triple Crown winner, Bold Eagle, had to be scratched from the race. The 7-year-old stallion still exhibited signs of lameness in his left front hoof after battling an abscess.