by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondant

17 races, with a total of 253 trotters, and a record $40 million wagered in the tote at Vincennes, Paris, France. That was the result of this Sunday’s (June 17) event at Europe’s biggest racecourse.

It was the first time ever that Vincennes had a double card, with races starting at 11:00 a.m., and it turned out to be a huge success with more than 10,000 fans attending not only the races, but a lot of entertainment between the races.

The main event of the day was the Prix de president du Republique — an under saddle race for 4-year-old trotters (geldings excluded) over a 1-3/4 mile distance with a total purse of $310,000.

The favorite, Paddy du Buisson with Nathalie Henry in the saddle, won very easily in a new race record of 1:59.2 (mile rate).

The elder trotters met in the Prix Rene Balliere over the 1-5/16th mile distance with a total purse of $260,000 dollars. Kool du Caux, who recently won the Copenhagen Cup in Denmark, again showed that he is on top of his game, as he won with open lengths in 1:53.4 (mile rate). The French champion Jean Michel Bazire was again in the bike behind Kool du Caux, who is trained by Fabrice Souly.

Kool du Caux will race again in a fortnight in the Forus Open in Norway.