by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

For the third consecutive year Arch Madness will race in two of Europe’s most prestigious trotting races, the Oslo Grand Prix, to be raced on Sunday (May 12) and the Elitlopp a fortnight later.

In the Oslo Grand Prix, Trond Smedshammer will drive the 9-year-old gelding and they will race from post position six.

The start list for the Oslo Grand Prix, which is raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance and has a purse of $260,000 for the winner, looks like this:

1. Viking Frecel-Vidar Hop-Norway
2. Save the Quick-Torbjörn Jansson-France
3. Classic Grand Cru-Björn Goop-Germany
4. Sebastian K-Åke Svanstedt-Sweden
5. Nesta Effe-Roberto Vecchione-Italy
6. Arch Madness-Trond Smedshammer-United States
7. Maharajah-Örjan Kihlström-Sweden
8. Raja Mirchi-Erik Adielsson-Sweden
9. Commander Crowe-Matthieu Abrivard-Sweden
10. Mr XF Royal-Lars Anvar Kolle–Norway

Arch Madness won the Oslo Grand Prix in 2011 with Björn Goop in the bike and last year he finished third for Trond Smedshammer.

Last year’s winner, Commander Crowe, has drawn badly, as he will have to race from the second tier behind the gate as only eight horses will be in the first tier.