by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 9-year-old German trotter Brioni, who won the Elitlopp in 2011, has been retired.

Brioni last raced in the Copenhagen Cup at Charlottenlund racetrack in Denmark, where he finished fifth.

Kanal 75 photo

Brioni retired with a resume that included 32 wins and $1.9 million in earnings.

Brioni is German bred and owned, but has always been trained in Sweden by Joachim Lövgren, who is based at Jägersro. Brioni raced 63 times and won 32 races, took a mark of 1:52.1f and had earnings of $1.9 million. He is sired by Timberland (by the French champion sire Coktail Jet) and is out of Armbro Edith, she by Florida Pro and Norah Lobell.

He will go to stud in 2013, probably in Sweden.

In Sweden, the 4-year-old mare Vincennes won the Norrlands Grand Prix over the 1-5/16th mile distance on Thursday evening (July 19) in a new Swedish record for her sex and age, 1:56.4f.

Vincennes took her ninth victory from 14 races and with the purse of $45,000, she now has lifetime earnings of $425,000. She has a rather old pedigree as she’s sired by Spotlite Lobell (he by Speedy Somolli) and is out of Lina Trot (she by Firm Tribute).

In France, the country’s leading driver, Jean Michel Bazire, is hospitalized after he suffered a stroke last Sunday.

Bazire was driving at Enghien, where he finished third, but after the race he felt ill, couldn’t talk and move. He was in intensive care for three days, but is now feeling much better.

He is still in the hospital and is able to communicate, to read the Paris Turf and watch the race channel Equidia. However, he still has problems with his left arm.

Bazire has won 154 races so far in 2012. Number two on the list is Mathieu Abrivard with 78 wins, followed by Franck Nivard with 77 and Eric Raffin with 74.