by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The Klosterskogen Grand Prix on Sunday (April 4) at the Klosterskogen Racetrack in Norway became very dramatic, as three horses went down with about a quarter-mile to go.

The accident happened as Danish driver Steen Juul took his trotter Clasic Grand Cru to the outside and unfortunately hit the front legs of Navy Seal, driven by another Dane, Bo Westergaard. Navy Seal stumbled and fell immediately, taking First Line Sec with Bjorn Goop and Garland Kronos with Lutfi Kolgjini — both from Sweden — with him. As First Line Sec ran loose the judges decided to call off the race.

After a while the race was started again — and Classic Grand Cru, driven by Steen Juul, became a very easy winner of the purse for the winner of $65,000. However, Steen Juul was fined $8,500 and suspended for three weeks.

Reports from the stables say that the trotters had minor injuries. Between the drivers, Björn Goop seems to be hurt most and will have to rest for a couple of days before he will return to action again.

You may view a Youtube video of the crash by clicking on this link.

In a race earlier on the day, Goop had guided the ex-pat Howthehaloareyou to victory in the Habib Memorial. This was the first race in Europe for the son of Yankee Glide, who last year was campaigned in the United States by Anette Lorentzon.

In Sweden the countdown to the Olympic Trot continued, and the German trotter Nu Pagadi, driven by Erik Adielsson, was a very easy winner of the third qualification race at Romme. The Olympic Trot will be raced at Aby in Gothenburg on Saturday, April 17.