World champion Victory Tilly, 29, has died in Sweden.
Victory Tilly was the richest Swedish trotter ever with earnings of 37.7 million SEK or $3.5 million.
In 2002, Victory Tilly, with trainer/driver Stig H. Johansson, won the Nat Ray Trot at the Meadowlands in a world record of 1:50.4.
Victory Tilly won no less than 70 races from 101 starts. He won big stakes races all over Europe, but as a gelding, he was not allowed to compete in races in France like the Prix d’Amerique and Prix de France.
But he won a lot of the big races; here are some of his signature wins: Svenskt Travderby, Elitloppet, Åby Stora Pris, Hugo Åbergs Memorial, Oslo Grand Prix, Sundsvall Open Trot, Nat Ray Trot, Jubileumspokalen, Copenhagen Cup, Breeders Crown (Sweden; Forus Open; Gran Premio delle Nazioni; and Gran Premio Lotteria.
After Victory Tilly was retired, he was stabled at Stig H. Johansson’s farm, St Alby, where he died peacefully Sunday morning.